“Hello? Grandpa? Uncle Will?” that’s when I heard the sound of cooing, like a baby cooing but it wasn’t human.  I set my violin case down to the banister by the front door and walked into the study room where I found a large box with holes sitting on the table.  As I got closer to it, I heard my uncle say.

“Oh perfect timing, guess that means I can show you both.” I turned and saw both my uncle and grandpa coming around from the kitchen entry.

“Show me what?” uncle Will walked passed me, ruffled my hair and stood over the box.

“Hey grandpa.”

“Hey sweetheart. Get another gold star from Ms. Honey for good behavior?” I smiled solemnly.  Ms. Honey was my kindergarten teacher, my current teacher is Mr. Simmons. 

My grandpa for the past couple of years has been dealing with Alzheimer’s disease.  Uncle Will told me that it’s a disease that slowly eats away at the brain’s cells, affecting memory and sometimes body function.  You see, my parents died in a plane crash when I was just 3 years old and in their will they had the next guardianship be my grandpa.  But two years ago, that’s when the disease started to take its effect on him.

So my uncle Will had to move in with us to help not only take care of me but of grandpa too.  And when he’s at work and I’m at school, a nice nurse comes in and helps take care of grandpa.

“Grandpa, I’m in the 4th grade. My teacher is Mr. Simmons. You know the nice man you and uncle Will met last month at the school picnic.” He looked dazed for a second but then said.

“Oh right, yeah I knew that.”

“Dad, Lin, come check this out.” Uncle Will said trying to redirect the conversation.  We came over and the second we looked inside, there lay a baby monkey.

“Is that a monkey?” I asked with a head tilt.

“He’s actually a chimpanzee, an ape.” Uncle Will corrected me.  Grandpa was in pure awe as he slowly reached in and touched the baby chimp.

“What is that? Is he injured?” he asked as I took notice of a mark right around the right side of his chest.  It was a prominent balding mark in a unique shape, a long oval shape with an additional stripe at the top.  Kinda reminded me of an incomplete cross or an unfinished F.

“No, I think that’s a birthmark.” Uncle Will said as he crossed into the kitchen and started putting some things into the fridge.  All the while grandpa picked up the baby chimp and lifted him high into the air like he was Simba.  The little guy was just small enough to fit between both of grandpa’s hands.

“Listen Lin,” he told me before he began quoting, “‘But as for Caesar, kneel down, kneel down and wonder.’”

“He’s so cute.” I awed as I reached out and touched his little toes.

“Yeah don’t get too attached, either of you.” Uncle Will told us.

“So why bring him here then if we can’t keep him?” I sassed.

“He’s not a dog or a cat, not even a bunny rabbit. He’s a wild animal. My coworker promised he’d try to find an animal sanctuary for him in a couple of days.” I let out a exasperated groan.

“Animal sanctuaries are still prisons.”

“Don’t get smart young lady.” My uncle playfully reprimanded as he pointed at me.

“It’s not polite to point.” I sassed back.

“Polite? Okay, I’ll show you polite.” My uncle said as he shut the fridge and giving me that narrowed but playful look in his eyes.  I took off running as he raced after me.  I got only up four stairs before I felt two arms wrap around me and he swung me away from the staircase and the next thing I felt was a wet finger in my ear.

“GAHH EWW UNCLE WILL!!!”

“Yeah your mom did this to me all the time when we were kids, now it’s payback.” He laughed.

“I’m innocent in this vile act!” I proclaimed dramatically.

“But you must pay for the sins of thy mother young youth!”

“Will, Maria, you two better stop horsing around in there.” At hearing my mom’s name we both settled down and a somber feeling was in the air.

“He’s been calling me that on and off for the past week.”

“Honestly who can blame him. You look so much like her when she was your age.” He said with a soft smile and he ruffled my hair again.

“Really?”

“Yeah. And when have I ever lied about anything in regards to my big sister?”

“Never.”

“Exactly.” He then playfully nudged my side with his before changing the subject.  “Now please tell me you managed to eat dinner cause I’ve had a long day of work and I don’t feel like cooking anything.”

“Lucky for you, the rec center was hosting a pizza party after the past few months prepping for Districts last week. Maestro Fiyero said we earned a little break after working us so hard.”

“Good. Now why don’t you brush your teeth and get ready for bed.”

“Why does my curfew have to be 9 o’clock? I’m 10 years old, not five.”

“Growing girls needs sleep too you know.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Tell grandpa I said goodnight will yah?”

“Will do kid. Sleep tight, don’t let the bedbugs bite.”

“You too.” I grabbed my violin and raced on upstairs and did my nighttime routine before getting into bed and turning off the light.

As the night progressed, I soon heard the sounds of shrieks coming from the hallway.  I opened my eyes and looked at my clock to see that it was 2:30am.  I got up and let out a cough and muttered to myself.

“Need some juice.” Quietly I walked down the hallway towards the stairs but as I came to the bathroom I could hear the shower running as well as the bathroom sink.  Did grandpa accidentally leave the water running again after taking his shower?  No, Uncle Will would’ve turned it off by now.

I knocked softly on the door and I heard my uncle’s voice say.

“It’s just me dad.”

“I’m not grandpa.” I heard footsteps and the door cracked open and when he saw me, he brought me into the bathroom before closing it.  Immediately I was hit with the heat that had been trapped by the hot water that was coming from both the shower and the sink.

“What are you doing up so late Lin?”

“I heard shrieking and then I got thirsty.”

“Ohh sorry, guess this little guy woke you up too huh?” it was then I took notice of the baby chimp swaddled up in my uncle’s arms.  I looked down at him and he looked up at me, moving his grip from my uncle’s finger to mine as he cooed.

“He looks like he has a cold.”

“You think?”

“Yeah, his nose is kinda runny.”

“Well that’s normal for babies sometimes. He’s barely a day old. You definitely had a runny nose when you were born.”

“No I didn’t!”

“Oh yeah you were quite the little snot monster. The original boogeyman, or boogeygirl.” He said taking his free hand that was on top of the baby chimp and playfully gripped my nose.

“Uncle Will!” I whined softly which made him laugh.  Our moment was stopped as the baby chimp let out a few more coos before snuggling up to uncle Will, all the while the grip on my finger got a bit tighter.  I smiled down at him and said as I stroked my thumb over his tiny fingers.  “Are you sure we can’t keep him?”

“I’ll—think about it. Holding him like this….makes me think back to the day you were born. Boy your mom wouldn’t let me near you at first. Feared I was gonna drop you, she always had that fierce mama bear instinct right from the get-go. Even when we were growing up and as she tormented me at times. When I needed it, she was there with her hot-headed attitude.”

“I miss her uncle Will.”

“Me too kid. Me too.” I leaned up against him and he rested his head on top of mine giving it a soft kiss.  “Go on back to bed, I’ll stay up with him.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. I’m used to all-nighters, one day you might get there when you’re composing your first symphony. But for now, head back to bed.”

“Can I still get my juice first? I’m thirsty.”

“Just this once. Just be quiet when passing Charles’ room.” I nodded before leaning down and gave the baby chimp a kiss to which he let out a cute yawn and quiet hoot.

“Goodnight little chimp. Night uncle Will.” I gave him a peck on the cheek and he said goodnight to me as I quietly left the bathroom shutting the door immediately as I got out.  I went downstairs, got my drink and went back to bed.

The next morning I was finishing my breakfast and packing my school books into my backpack as uncle Will was coming down with the baby chimp and set him up in my old high-stool chair that grandpa had kept.

“Where’s my car keys?” grandpa asked as he was patting through his robe and pj pockets.  “My car keys where’d you put them? I need to get Lin to school!” he said urgently.

“Dad.” Uncle Will calmly spoke to him. “You-you don’t drive anymore. And Lin takes the bus.” Grandpa looked at him with a blank stare before turning away and telling him.

“I know that.” It really does make me sad to see grandpa this way.  He always looks so dazed and lost, like he’s here with us but at the same time he’s not.  Sometimes he’ll just sit there and stare off into space, frozen in his spot and not say anything for a really long time.

“Here, why don’t you feed him? Can you do that?” uncle Will suggested holding up a baby bottle filled with milk.

“Of course I can.” Said grandpa coming over.  As uncle Will went to get his coffee (blech!) grandpa came over and grabbed the bottle which made the baby chimp go crazy with hunger as he reached out for it.  As soon as it was in reach, he grabbed the bottle from grandpa’s hand and immediately began drinking it as fast as he could.

I dropped my fork and stared at him in awe.  I was told that babies always needed help being fed for at least several months and yet after just being born yesterday, he was feeding himself.

“Will, look at this.” Grandpa said as uncle Will came back into the kitchen and saw what we saw.  “How old is he? Like a day old, two days old?” Uncle Will sat down as he examined the baby chimp confused.

“Yeah.” Uncle Will said lowly as he kept his eyes on the baby chimp.

“Oh he’s a smart one isn’t he?” said grandpa as he came around and sat on the other side of the baby and gently placed his hand on top of his head.  “What are you gonna name him?”

“I—I don’t know.” Uncle Will said unsure.  That’s when I saw it.  Now I’m no monkey or ape expert but from pictures I’ve seen in books they normally have dark eyes, mostly brown but this little guy.  His eyes were green.

Hundreds of thoughts were going through my mind.  How did Caesar escape with no one noticing? Why did he come back to the house? What did he get? And why bring my violin back inside or take the time to tuck me into bed? I sped up as I now drove up the winding hills that led to the shelter until I finally reached the gates.

Surprisingly, neither Rodney nor Dodge were at the front gates.  Usually it’s the two of them first thing in the morning before Mr. Landon comes around for a few hours and then leaves.  I shut off my bike and as I got off it, Will’s car soon pulled up next to me.

“Neither of them are at the gate like they usually are by this time.” I told them as they got out of the car.

“Alright, come on there’s gotta be another way in.” The three of us raced around towards the back entrance to find the doors were broken off their hinges.  We looked at each other worriedly before racing inside and coming around towards the back office.  “Landon? Landon!”

“The cages are down there.” I told them as I led them across the backroom and down the winding ramp where all the cages were, but it was shocking to see all of them were completely empty.  Not a single ape could be found in the long corridors, and each cage door had been opened.

But what truly stuck out was the sudden smell of burning flesh.  I looked down and right at my feet was Dodge Landon.  I shrieked as uncle Will came over and pulled me away from Dodge’s body.  He knelt down to check his pulse but I could already tell from the severe degree of burns he had, and the fact that he wasn’t breathing that he had to have been dead for several hours, at least.

I continued to walk pass each cage hoping to find some sort of clue when Caroline called out.

“Will! Lin!” we raced towards the last cage that she now opened up herself and I proclaimed.

“Rodney!” I knelt down beside him, the poor man was curled in feeble position, fear and shock was permanently etched to his face, and I could see the faint bruising around his neck and face.  “Hey, hey, it’s okay. It’s Lin, remember?” he whimpered but I saw him mouth out my name and I gave him a soft nod.  My uncle knelt down beside me and asked Rodney.

“What happened?”

“He spoke.” Rodney whimpered softly.  Almost so quietly, we almost didn’t even hear him.

“What do you—what?” Will asked perplexed.

“Your ape…..he spoke.” Rodney said again, this time an intensity to his voice.

Oh. My. God.  Caesar could…..speak now? Holy shit.

“We have to call this in.” Caroline said.  “Tell them that they’ve all escaped. And get Rodney some help.”

“I agree with getting Rodney help, but you know what they’ll do. They’ll just start shooting at every ape they see, including Caesar.” Said uncle Will.

“It’s better they hear it from us than from Landon.”

“She’s right. He’ll just spin it as rabid apes that killed his son. At least from us, it’ll be an unbiased report of an animal escape.” I agreed with Caroline.  Will took a few deep breaths before taking out his phone and called 911.

Within minutes, police and an ambulance arrived as Rodney was being wheeled outside, I heard Rodney call out my name.  The medics stopped and I came up to him.

“He—he also told me. To give you a message.” My eyes widened.  “He said….. ‘keep playing nightingale.’” And with that the medics rolled him out after deducing his statement as part of the shock he was experiencing.  My heart felt heavy but at the same time, lighter than it had been since grandpa passed away.

I went back to the security room where some officers, Will, Caroline and now Mr. Landon all watched Dodge’s last and final moments that were captured by the security camera.  We all saw Caesar come into the frame with the hose, while Dodge stood with the cattle prod in his hand.

“What the hell?” a cop spoke up.

“‘I’m gonna skin each and every one of you!’” Those were Dodge’s final words before he was sprayed by the hose but also electrocuted by the cattle prod that I could hear was at full charge.

I know it’s not right to speak ill of the dead, but Dodge kinda deserved it.  Didn’t he know that water is a strong conductor for electricity? If he hadn’t had the prod in his hands, all he would’ve gotten was a spray full of water.  Probably given a taste of his own medicine, Caesar would never have done it to kill him.

But the evidence was all the police needed.  Immediately they started moving out to go on the hunt for every ape loose in San Fransisco.  I came up to the car window and asked.

“What do we do now?”

“I know where’s he’s headed. Keep on our tail.” I nodded and soon Will hit the gas and drove away from the shelter and I followed close behind them.

Will took us across the backroads in order to avoid the city.  And when I saw the Golden gate bridge pass the fog, that’s when it hit me.  Of course he’d take them there.  That’s all he wants is to take them home, to a place where there’s nothing but rich green grass and trees taller than the tallest buildings San Fransisco has.

I revved my engine as I drove up close to Will’s station wagon and Caroline turned to face me.  I quickly pointed at the bridge and I saw her say something to Will and he and I nodded to each other as I revved my engine faster and he drove behind me.

But as we finally came to the bridge, traffic was piling up and a crowd of people were being evacuated.  Police, SWAT team, riot police, every law enforcement officer was now on the bridge trying to get everyone off the bridge, while the crowd were screaming in a panic.

I had a sinking feeling that Caesar and the other apes must’ve already passed through here and were somewhere pass the fog shrouding the bridge.  Both Will and I weaved our motor vehicles through the crowded traffic until police force stopped us right in our tracks.

“Turn that bike around, keep moving. Get off the bridge, now!” I took off my helmet and the officer told me again.  “Ma’am I won’t ask you again, turn the bike around and evacuate the bridge now!”

“What’s the reason for officer?” I asked.

“You need to evacuate the bridge now. This is your last warning ma’am.”

“I can’t turn this bike around until you give me a better reason. Is there a bomb? A hostage situation with children on a school bus?”

“Alright, get off your bike and put your hands behind your back.” I revved my bike and sneered.

“Not this time.” I drove past him and several other officers.  I drove past the barricade they tried to make and I stopped just midway through the traffic.  I then ditched my bike as I saw the riot police coming up through the narrow pathways the cars would allow them on their horses.  Fully armed and ready to take down the apes.

“This is gonna be a blood bath.”

“Push them north!” I heard a riot officer cry out as their horses began the charge across the bridge.  I got behind a black SUV and I quickly peeked pass the car to see my uncle running down the street with a riot officer running right behind him.  I grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him to the side as the horse ran right by us.

“Lin?”

“It’s too late to turn back now. You and I can settle our grievances later, right now we’ve got more important things to deal with.” He panted heavily but nodded.

“Don’t leave my side for a second. If there’s gunfire, you get low and don’t come up for any reason. Got it?” I nodded.  At that moment we heard the sound of apes shrieking in pain as the riot police force began swatting at every ape they got up to with their batons.

Now these riot police are more than just your average cops, but not on the extreme level of the SWAT team.  They are hired because of how hard they can hit someone with brute strength alone, and be practically emotionless when taking down panicked rioters.  And when riding on top of their horses, it was like seeing a modern day calvary charge like back in WW1 England.

“Let’s go.” Will said as he took my hand and we both ran ahead down the street.  It felt like being in a horror movie with how vacant the Golden gate bridge was without all the traffic noise and no person in sight.

The second we heard any sound of gunfire through the fog, Will immediately stopped and had us hide behind some cars and he shielded me with his body.

“Don’t get up!” he warned me as he buried my head into his chest.  The faint sounds of gunfire from both semi and automatic weapons as well as pistols echoed through the dense fog, and I didn’t know whether not seeing them or seeing them was scarier.  Then as quickly as they started, it all went silent again.  After a few moments of silence, a roar soon pierced the air and I muttered.

“Caesar.” It had to be him.  Soon the sounds of apes shrieking aggressively and panicked screams of the police and guns going off soon took over the deserted bridge.  Will and I looked at each other and he said.

“Keep low and follow me. Once there’s no more gun fire, we make a break for it.” I nodded as we stuck close hiding between car to car, and any chance we heard gunfire, we quickly ducked behind the car before moving again.

After about 5-10 minutes, the sounds of gunfire finally stopped and all that could be heard was the sounds of the apes shrieking and screeching victoriously.  That’s when Will and I made a break for it and sprinted down the bridge until we came the turned over bus that the apes must’ve used as a decoy before ambushing the officers.

“CAESAR!” both Will and I cried out.  Caesar, who was on top of a police car, let out a roar before quickly turning toward us, a stunned look on his face.  But our brief reunion was cut short by the sound of helicopter blades whirling.

Once the chopper was over the bridge, the sound of rapid gunfire rang out as bullets were flying everywhere, including us.

“CAESAR NO!!!” I cried out as Will pulled me behind the bus and as the bullets bounced through the entire bus, uncle Will encompassed me with his entire body as we got as low as possible as the bullets continued to rain hellfire.

Okay, this was actually more frightening than just hearing the bullets just a quarter mile down the bridge.  Actually hearing a gun go off and bullets brushing leaves you with a high-pitched ringing in your ears.  Your world goes muffled and faint and you can only hope and pray that you’re not shot by the next several rounds as they get closer and closer to you.

It almost felt like an eternity before the rain of gunfire finally stopped but as both uncle Will and I looked up, we saw the helicopter suddenly start to spin out of control.  That’s when I noticed the form of a gorilla had somehow managed to launch himself into the chopper and bring it down.  And it was heading towards us!

“LIN GET DOWN!!” Uncle Will threw himself over me as we got to the other end of the bus, Will’s body on top of mine as the helicopter crashed into the side of the bridge just hitting barely a foot from where we had stood to get Caesar’s attention.  I felt the heat of the explosion even through my uncle’s body as I heard the sound of a few cop cars blow up along with the chopper before all went quiet once more.

The air was tainted with the smell of burnt fuel and rubber, and the stray flames decorated the Golden gate bridge like flowers in a meadow.  But what caught my attention were some of the dead ape bodies that now lined the streets of the Golden gate bridge.

All of this…..for what? All they wanted was to go to their new home, but like always we humans would rather shoot a wild animal first and ask questions later.  Supreme intelligence, more like egotistical supremacy.  I shook my head shamefully at all this destruction and death when I felt uncle Will gently take my arm.

“They’re moving out, come on.” We ran past the bus and headed towards one of the few police cars that somehow miraculously wasn’t hit when the chopper crashed.  Will got into the driver’s seat while I got into the passenger’s seat, and the second I closed the door, he shifted the stick to Drive and he floored it down the bridge.

We drove over the same road we took practically every weekend to take Caesar to the Redwoods entrance.  The second we came to the entrance, Will put the car in park and we both ran out the car and raced into the forest’s main entrance. 

We ran through the redwoods as fast as our legs could carry us, all the while uncle Will called out Caesar’s name.  From above, I could see the faint silhouettes of apes swinging from above us.  We came to clearing where Caesar’s favorite tree to climb was and this time I called out Caesar’s name.

When out of nowhere, both uncle Will and I were knocked to the ground, my chest aching from having the wind nearly knocked out of me.  Uncle Will came in front of me as a scarred-face bonobo chimp stared us down snarling.  He got closer and closer to uncle Will, but he made sure that this ape wouldn’t get to me first.  But just when I thought I was going to see my uncle’s face get ripped apart, another figure came and pushed the bonobo aside.

The bonobo was tossed and rolled across the ground a few feet away from us.  As it tried to come back toward us, it soon stopped as the figure stood tall and dominant.  The figure turned out to be none other than Caesar.  He gave the bonobo a dominant grunt and a hard stare, daring it to challenge him.  But the bonobo refused and ran off deep into the woods.

Caesar turned to us and we all stared at each other for a moment.  Caesar then slowly extended his hand out to uncle Will and after a brief moment of hesitation, Will took his hand and Caesar pulled him up.  Caesar then turned back to me and extended his hand out to me next.  I took it and he gently helped me up.  At this point I couldn’t contain myself, I immediately embraced him and choked out.

“Thank god you’re alright.” I tried to suck in my tears but I could feel them burning behind my eye lids.  Caesar pulled away from my embrace but cupped my face between his hands and gently placed his forehead to mine.  After our sibling reunion, we turned to Will and he said to Caesar.

“Caesar, I’m sorry. This is my fault. This has to stop, this isn’t the way. You know what they’re capable of. Please come home. If you come home, I’ll protect you.” How? This—this is so much bigger than us now. Plus…. At that moment, the rest of the apes soon came out all looking to Caesar.  Without him, these apes are lost.  They need Caesar even more than Will or I do.

There was silence as the two of them looked at each other, Will’s eyes pleading for Caesar to come home but I knew from the look on his face that Caesar made his choice.  Softly and slowly, he brought Will into his arms and pulled him close.  One hand around the back of Will’s head while the other was resting over his shoulder.  Then just loud enough for the both of us to hear, he spoke into Will’s ear.

“Caesar is home.” Whoa.  That deep, gravely yet warm voice sent chills up my arms.  Uncle Will jumped back in surprise as Caesar kept his arms near his body but allowed him to back away.  His eyes widened in shock as he stared at Caesar.  Caesar gave uncle Will a pat on the shoulder as uncle Will finally began to understand.

“Okay, Caesar’s home.” Finally there was an understanding between the two.  Will finally learned to let go and Caesar could finally be himself, and not who we tried to make him be.  Then Caesar turned his attention to me.

Even though I’ve now accepted his choice, it still didn’t make it easier.  Tears burned my eyes as I looked down, my shoulders shaking.  I soon felt Caesar’s rough, leather hand come up and touch the edge of my right eye, wiping the tears that bled out with his curled fingers.

“Lin,” he said to me.  I looked up at him as he told me as he signed what I’d used to sign and speak to him, “You…stay. I—go.” My heart shattered and my throat clenched as I looked down again.  He lifted my chin up before finishing as he waved his finger at me, “No….following.”

“You’ve been waiting eight years to finally say that back to me.” I choked out a laugh as Caesar huffed one out.  His green eyes looking at me lovingly but held such strength to them.  I embraced him once again as I cried into his shoulder. “You’ll always be in my heart.”

We rocked back and forth softly before he released me and slowly backed away from me, the last bit of touch I felt from him was his fingers brushing against mine.  Uncle Will came up to me, holding onto my shoulder to not only hold me back but to give me comfort.

“Goodbye Caesar.” I softly whispered as the tears continued to spill down my face.

“Go.” Will told him.  Caesar then turned his back on us and walked over to his troupe.  All of them looking to him as their great leader, much like the figure he was named after.  Some began to give him the supplicating gesture, to which Caesar accepted from them as they parted like the Red Sea and let him stand before his tree.

Caesar looked to each of his apes as they now all stood up on their back legs just like him before racing towards his tree and began climbing up it, followed by the other apes going up the various other trees nearby.

My tears that were once filled with sorrow and heartache, now turned to joy and pride as I smiled and watched as Caesar climbed far past the skyline with his people.

“Hey Doe, listen do you still have that camera I gave you for your birthday last year? Oh nothing’s wrong I just need to borrow it for a little bit, is that alright? Great, thanks. Yeah, yeah that’ll work. Okay see yah tomorrow. Bye girl, and thanks again. Kiss, kiss.” I hung up and turned to an old photo that Will made for Caesar.

It was the two of us together on his 3rd birthday just after I had performed E.T’s flight for him.  My violin bow in hand with Caesar and I leaning against the other and him holding my violin carefully in his.

“I promised I’d never let anything happen to you, and I failed you little brother. But I’m not gonna fail you again.” My plan forming carefully in my head.

The next day I met my friend Dorinda at her aunt’s cat café and she gave me the camera I had given her for her 17th birthday.  A 4K megapixel digital camera.  Doe was always into photography which is why all her pictures were the best ones in the school yearbook.  And like me, she’s getting a scholarship all the way in New York for Journalism with a focus in principle photography.

I promised to bring the camera back before she left for New York in two weeks to start moving into her new apartment her dad had found for her (her parents had gotten divorced during our sophomore year).  I then rode on my motorbike towards San Bruno’s primate shelter.

Once I got there, I was careful not to drive up to the gate, instead I found an old abandoned building that was fairly close to the shelter and snuck inside of it.  I climbed up the stairs until I reached a good window that happened to look down at the sanctuary.

I turned on the camera and looked through the lens screen and saw the full 4k HD picture of the San Bruno Primate shelter.  I hit the zoom button and low and behold I managed to actually see the security building and saw two men.  One was a blonde haired boy who could’ve been ten years older than me, or maybe around my uncle’s age.  And the other one was a dark-haired man about the same age, maybe a few years older than the blonde haired boy.

“What I wouldn’t give to have some audio recording gear right about now.” I muttered to myself as I slowly look around the security building.

After a few minutes of nothing but seeing the two of them arguing, or more like the blonde one bullying the dark-haired man, I soon heard the sounds of a car pulling up.  Without hesitation, the gates opened up and the car pulled in.  I was beginning to think this could be another employers car or even the manager who runs the shelter, but the second I heard the frantic honks and faint sounds of cheering, I knew this wasn’t the case.

Soon enough two girls and another boy came out of the car and were waving around bottles of beer.  I smirked and began snapping the pictures of them.  The blonde boy coming out and greeting whom I assumed were his friends, and him letting them inside the shelter.  I also made sure to get good pictures of the beer his buddy brought.  Smirking I looked down at the camera and said.

“Gotcha.” I raced out of the building and headed back towards my bike. Quick as I could, I drove off to the closest Walmart and went over to the tech department to get the photos developed.  After waiting about 20-25 minutes, the clerk handed me the photos and I thanked him before heading out.

I packed up everything I was going to need tomorrow when I heard a knock at my door.  I jumped slightly but relaxed once I saw that it was uncle Will.

“I just got off the phone with the sanctuary, your visitation tomorrow has been approved.”

“Thanks Will.” I said.

“Now you sure you don’t need me to come with you. I know that things have been—delicate for you lately since Caesar was……”

“I’ll be fine uncle Will. Who knows, maybe seeing him and knowing that he’s alright will put me at ease.”

“You know I’m doing everything I can to get him back, right?”

“I know you are. Believe me, I know.” I walked up to him and embraced him.  “You’ve always tried to be so strong. It’s okay to need help.” I heard him sniffle before he separated from me and he said.

“You might wanna get some sleep. They told me they’re expecting you at 10am sharp.” Without another word, he left my room and I let out a deep sigh.  I got into bed and soon fell asleep after setting my alarm.

Bright and early the next morning, I got up, got dressed, had my breakfast and took off towards the San Bruno primate shelter before the summer morning traffic could hit.  This time I came straight to the gate and after showing my electronic approval to the dark-haired employer, he let me in and escorted me inside.

“What’s your name?” I asked him.

“Pardon?” he asked nervously.

“I asked you for your name.” I asked him again.

“R-Rodney.” He replied.

“Pleasure to meet you Rodney, I’m Lin. Lin Rodman.” I extended out my hand as we came into the office and he hesitantly took my hand before we shook on it.

“Alright Rodney piss off and get back to work!” snapped the blonde-haired man.  Rodney flinched and raced off further down the sanctuary corridor.  “So, my father tells me you’re here for the new guy? Been nothing but trouble that one.”

“All apes are intelligent beings if you take the time to know them in a calm, collective manner.” I told him.  He rolled his eyes and groaned.

“Oh don’t tell me you’re one of those people. The ones that are always protesting for animal rights and their free speech. Please they’re animals! They don’t know the difference between food and their own shit.” I narrowed my eyes at him and said as I came around and sat down at one of the chairs.

“And just who are you to say something like that?”

“Are you kidding me? Kid, I’m Dodge Landon. And I know better than these stupid monkeys.”

“Apes. Monkeys have tails, apes don’t.”

“Whatever. Let’s just get this over with.” He trudged out of the main office and I followed right behind him to another room where a large cage with only a small slot stood.  “Wait over there.” He ordered me as he pointed at a bench before continuing onward.  I sat down at it and waited for a bit.

Soon I heard the sound of footsteps coming from the roof and hopping down in the cage was Cesar.  The second we saw one another, Caesar hooted happily and I came over to him taking his hand in mine.

“Hey, hey there Caesar.” He reached up and gently touched where the bruise from Hunsiker’s punch was at as he signed to me.

‘Still hurt bad?’

“It’s fine, see? Bruise is gone now. I’m okay bud, I’m okay.” The second I saw Dodge come into the room I stood up and asked him. “I’d like to know that he’s being well taken care of here and that no harm has come to him.”

“He’s fine. If he gets picked on, that’s his problem, not ours.” Dodge shrugged nonchalantly.

“So you wouldn’t care if a court order of animal abuse came onto this sanctuary?”

“Truthfully I could care less about what happens to this place. My father’s the one who really runs it, he just forces me to work here.”

“Huh.” I hummed.  “Now according to your website, you say you provide an ‘enriching environment’ is that correct?”

“Yeah, so what?”

“So what is that exactly? Just out of curiosity.”

“You know you’re asking a lot of questions that shouldn’t be asked.”

“Well now hold on a second, I’m merely just making conversation here. I’d like to know that the temporary home that Caesar is in is giving him everything he needs. He’s not like other chimps you know.”

“Please. He’s just another dumb animal who thinks he’s special. And you’re a nosy little girl whose sticking her nose where it don’t belong!” Caesar lowly growled but I held my hand out in front of him to calm him down.

“I suppose I am. But before you do anything, I’d like to show you something.” I went over to my pack and pulled out the folder and held it out to him.  He snatched the folder and opened it up to reveal the fully developed 4k pictures of him and his friends together with beer in hand and him sneaking them inside the sanctuary through the backdoor.

“How’d you get these pictures?” he hissed at me.

“How I got them doesn’t matter, what matters is what are you going to do with them.”

“You really think you’re so smart, huh? Well I’ll show you!” he then proceeded to rip up the pictures to shreds. “There, now you have no evidence.”

“Don’t I?” I then pulled out the thumb drive I had put the pictures on before getting them developed.  “Now I know you said you could care less what happens to this place, but what happens if—I don’t know say….the public finds out about this? If the courts decided this place was unreliable to house unwanted apes. After all in this day in age, it’s the public opinion that rules all, right? Even if the courts don’t do anything, the people will. And that would be such a headache for you, now wouldn’t it? Unless……we come to a little deal.”

Dodge looked at me with both seething anger but also a hint of fear.

“You blackmailing me?” he asked.

“Yes.” I replied after a moment of silence.  I gave him an unsettling wide smile, softly chuckling while and a crazy look to my eye to let him know I meant business.

“What do you want?” I turned towards Caesar and said as I took his hand in mine.

“I should like to come at least twice a week, no further visitor approval. And I shall provide the apes true enrichment. Give you less work to do.”

“And just how do you expect over 100 apes are going to listen to you.”

“Music doth soothes the savage beast, isn’t that how the quote goes? In that folder you’ll also see my resume of performing with the San Fransico community center orchestra. You give me at least an hour to entertain the apes with true enrichment, and no one ever need know your dirty little secret. Not even your own father.”

I could see Dodge going over my proposition in his head, he took a deep breath in before exhaling sharply.

“And you swear you won’t go back on your deal and release those photos online?”

“You keep your end of the bargain, and I shall keep mine.” Dodge glared at me but he soon said.

“Deal. In fact you can start now, these animals have been going mad for hours.” As he turned away I turned to Caesar and muttered.

“Got it, Malfoy.” Caesar let out a laugh as I snickered which made Dodge stop and slowly turn to us.

“What did you call me?”

“Nothing, nothing not a thing, Draco Malfoy.” I told him before muttering the name under my breath again.  “I’ll see you on the other side Caesar.” He nodded and proceeded back up the cage and I heard his footsteps trail off.

“Move it.” Dodge lowly sneered as he gestured for me to move.  I was then taken to the back room where I feared all the apes were actually living was revealed.

Tightly condensed cages with only room for them to pace a foot between and only a small bunk-like bed for them to sit on if they didn’t want to sit at the floor of their cages.  All the chimps were going insane in their cages, beating on them, hotting and chattering hysterically.

“Sweet Jesus it’s worse than I thought.” I muttered.

“Oi! If you don’t mind, get on with your silly fiddle music.” Dodge impatiently snapped.

“It’s a violin, not a fiddle.” I set my case down and took out my violin.

“Uhh Dodge? Wh-why is she back here?” Rodney asked nervously.

“Oh don’t worry Rodney, I’m here to give you boys a bit of extra help.” I gave him a wink as I walked down the ramps tuning my violin to make sure it was good and ready.  As I came to the pathway between the cages, the apes began to settle down as they all looked to me.   

I then proceeded to play the very song I played at my last performance with the community center.  Celtic woman’s ‘Granuaile’s Dance’.  The second I started with the first few notes and dancing about like a doe in springtime, the apes all went silent as they watched me.

I’d dance in front of some of their cages, spinning on the balls of my feet while continuously playing.  Some came up to their cages with an entranced look that Caesar always had whenever I’d play for him.  Others began softly hooting happily as I’d do another spin for them before running down the corridors.

I made sure to give every ape the same attention as I played in each row and ran down the long, winding corridor.  Twirling, jumping, skipping, and racing down as I played my violin.  By the end of it all, I had raced back towards the main entrance of the corridor and when I finished, I heard some claps from the apes while the rest of them hooted and chattered in their way as an applause. I even heard some claps from above as I saw Rodney clapping but then he stopped when Dodge glared at him.

“Now if you gentlemen don’t mind, I’ve got about 57 minutes left of this concert and I think the apes would appreciate it if they weren’t being monitored like common criminals.” Dodge turned away scoffing under his breath.

“Whatever.”

“J-just be sure to not get too close to the cages.” Rodney advised me.  I nodded and he left to go back into the infirmary office.  I took a deep breath in and proceeded to do several more compositions until my hour was almost up.  For the remainder of the five minutes I had left, I sat in front of Caesar’s cage.

“So you think the others enjoyed having true enrichment?”

‘Yes. Maurice especially loved it.’ Caesar signed.

“Who’s Maurice?” Caesar then pointed over to the only Orangutan in the sanctuary.  Maurice looked at me with eyes that held the same level of intelligence as Caesar and he began to sign.

‘You play beautifully.’ I gasped softly and signed to him.

‘You know sign language?’

‘Circus orangutan.’ Maurice signed to me.  I looked at him sympathetically and signed back to him.

‘I’m so sorry.’

‘No need for apologizes.’ I turned back to Caesar and he signed to me.

‘When can I go home?’ I sighed solemnly.

“Believe me brother, if it were up to me I’d bust you out of here right now. But only Will can get you out of here, I have no legal right to do that. I’m sorry.” Caesar huffed lowly as he looked away from me.  “I’m really sorry Caesar, the only thing I can do is come twice a week and provide you with some semblance of home thanks to my deal with the owner’s son.” He didn’t look back at me.  “I’ll see you in two days.” I packed up my violin and headed out the door.

“Finally finished?” Dodge sneered.

“Be thankful I took an hour of your miserable life of having to deal with these intelligent creatures. And remember our deal, if I hear you mentioning this to your father, the pictures get posted on my Instagram.” I walked out the door, got on my bike and headed back to the house.

Along with providing music for the apes, I also performed for grandpa in hopes of getting some recognition back into his eyes.  But all he gives any of us is the thousand-yard stare.

Sometimes I wonder if there is such a thing as ‘out of body experience’, that way grandpa could really see just how much his health has affected all of us.  Like cancer, the worst thing about Alzheimer’s disease is not what it does to the person it’s affecting, but the people around them.

Four weeks later and I had just finished my current concert I had given the apes at San Bruno primate sanctuary.  And as usual, I try to make the last few minutes be the one on one time with Caesar and I.  Lately, however, I’ve noticed how he’s grown to be more distant.  He hardly ever signs back to me, only giving me the occasional nod or one worded sign.  I sat by his cage and said to him.

“I don’t know what happened after the last time Will and Caroline came to see you a week ago, but surely it can’t be worth all this brooding and misery.” He didn’t turn back to face me.  “Please Caesar, you’re really starting to worry me. You can hardly look at me anymore. Are you—ashamed of me being here now?” he remained on his bunk bed, his back turned to me.

My heart cracked as I let out a soft scoff.

“Alright, I can take a hint.” I packed up my violin and told him. “Just know that all these years together wasn’t a game to me, nor a lie. You were like the little brother I never had, but if you don’t want me in your life anymore, I’ll respect your decision. I’ll remember you though, after all—I remember everyone who leaves.” A tear slid down my face as I raced out of the sanctuary and rode back home.

I stayed in my room the rest of the day and into the night.  Looking through the old scrapbook I had made of Caesar and myself throughout the years.  All of his best drawings, pictures of us together, things we collected during our time in the redwoods.  My throat clenched tightly and my heart sunk to my stomach.

I grabbed an old suitcase and with all the memorabilia I had that reminded me of Caesar, I placed them in the suitcase before zipping it up and placing a lock on the suitcase and locked it up.  I then slid the suitcase under my bed before collapsing onto my bed burying my face into my pillow as tears once again fell down my face.

And just when I thought I didn’t have anymore tears to shed, I woke the next morning to check on grandpa when I saw him and uncle Will together.  Grandpa’s body pale as his white sheets and lying still like a statue.  Will turned to me with tears in his eyes and he shook his head at me.

My body went numb—I didn’t feel myself collapse to my knees but I did take notice of how the world looked bigger while I felt smaller.  I must’ve let out some heart-breaking wail because uncle Will came and held me in his arms while Caroline came rushing in and I saw her checking on grandpa, but there wasn’t anything she could do.  There wasn’t anything anyone could do.

My grandpa, Charles Rodman, was dead.

We had the funeral a week later.  I didn’t even hear the automatic speech that the officiant had to say about my grandpa, all I could hear was muffled voices while I watched brokenly as my grandfather’s casket was lowered into the earth.

After the service, I was back in my room fiddling with some of grandpa’s old sheet music.  I don’t know why but now that he’s gone I feel—empty.  Like all the music I once had inside of me, the passion I once had for it, it was completely gone.  I tossed the sheet music aside and I heard a knock at my door.

“Knock, knock, may I come in?” I heard Caroline’s voice ask softly.  I let out a small grunt allowing her inside my room.  She sat down beside me and asked me, “How are you holding up Lin?”

“Was it worth it?” I croaked out for the first time after being silent for a whole week.

“What?”

“Was it worth pulling it off? His death? Would it have—hurt less if he had passed on five years ago? Or would we still be in this much pain, knowing that he didn’t have to have that fleeting second chance.”

“I know there’s nothing I can say that’ll bring him back, or change what happened. But you should at least take comfort in the fact that—he’s no longer suffering anymore. And he’ll always be with you, as long as you remember the things he taught you.” I moved my eyes towards my violin and I suddenly had a distain for it.

“LIN!!” Will’s voice cried out after hearing the front door slam shut.  Thunderous footsteps came up and he soon entered my room, a pissed off look across his face.

“Will, hold on now’s not the—”

“No Caroline this is between me and her.” Will snapped.  Caroline stood up and walked over to my uncle, holding his arm.

“Choose your next words carefully. She’s in a fragile state right now.” She then left closing the door behind her.

“The month you’d disappear twice a week for, tell me exactly where’d you go off to? And don’t lie to me.” I looked up at him.

“Visiting the community center to—”

“I SAID DON’T LIE TO ME LIN!!” he said slamming his hand on my dresser.  “I know Lin. I know you’ve been sneaking out to see Caesar by blackmailing the owner’s son. He told me, ‘tell that little brat of yours I don’t care about the photos. Now both of you aren’t my problem anymore’.”

“You already know, what’s the point in me telling you?”

“Don’t turn this around! Why would you do something so incredibly stupid!? If it had gotten out by the time the court date came around that you trespassed on private property, blackmailed their staff, and illegally saw Caesar, we’d never get him back! You never think these things through!”

“What like you did?! When you gave grandpa that drug? Or not telling Caesar who he really was? Or even just now by paying off Mr. Landon just to break Caesar out!” I snapped as I stood up from my bed and got into his face.  “Yeah, I saw the envelope full of money before we left for the service for grandpa. You’re not as slick as you think you are uncle.”

“Well as you can see it didn’t work. Caesar wouldn’t leave with me.”

“Good.” I went to walk away but he roughly grabbed my arm and snapped.

“What now all of a sudden you don’t care about him anymore? You’d always call him your brother ape now you’re acting like you don’t even know him!”

“Because I’ve learned to accept what he wanted. Something that you clearly can’t seem to grasp, and I don’t just mean for Caesar.” He let go of my arm and said.

“You got to be with your grandfather longer than you would’ve…”

“And then his disease came back! Ten times worse than it was before! You didn’t think that would happen!?”

“It’s not my fault that you turned your back for one second for him to get into Hunsiker’s car allowing Caesar to be taken away from us!” silence immediately rang through my room.

My fists clenched so tightly that my knuckles turned white and my nails dug deep into my palms.  I shook with rage as uncle Will suddenly realize what he had said.

“Lin, I—”

“No! No this is great! It’s great that you finally spoke the truth after all this time! I’m happy to know that Caesar being taken away was all my fault! So I’m sorry if I made things harder on you but in less than a month from now you…won’t even have to deal with me!” I stormed out of my room as well as out of the house.

Like whenever I try to leave for my summer tours for the community orchestra or go to school.  I still always have to sign to him our ‘no following’ command to him.  God I wonder how he’ll react once I leave in a few months.  Of course I’ve told him what’s going to happen as have Will and Caroline but you never know with him.

Once again we had taken him to the redwoods for him to get his daily exercise and fresh air.  And while Will and Caroline had their little picnic date, I had walked further along into the woods and began practicing my violin playing.

For the past year and a half for the community center, I have been their soloist violinist. And with my final performance happening a week before graduation, I needed to make sure I nailed this solo.  So every day I was always practicing and making sure to do the solo as best I could.  I had burned a copy of the song onto a disc and downloaded it to my playlist so that I could practice it on the go whenever I didn’t have my music sheets on hand.

So with my earbuds in, I had the song playing and I would do my solo whenever it came on.  And being that this was a Celtic piece we were performing, the Redwoods provided me some good atmosphere and inspiration to truly feel the music as I played it. 

At the end of the song, I faintly heard the sounds of applause from behind me and I turned to see uncle Will, Caroline and Caesar standing behind me.  Uncle Will gestured for me to take my earbuds out so I did and I could hear him say.

“While it’s not bad for you to practice, there is such a thing as overdoing it Lin.”

“Oh look who’s talking Mr. Overachiever scientist man.”

“That’s Dr. Overachiever scientist man to you missy.” Uncle Will teased.

“In all seriousness Lin, you’ve practiced enough. At this rate you could do more damage to your fingertips.” Caroline advised me.

“Yeah I know, I know. It’s just—I’ve been performing with the community center since I was 12. I want my last performance with them to be memorable. So that people can say, ‘Oh yeah Lin Rodman was their best violinist.’ ‘yeah no one could ever top her’.”

“We know Lin. But you’ve proven that more times than anyone in the orchestra. You’ve gained a scholarship from not only UC but Julliard themselves. And you chose to turn the later down even though they’re like the top ranking performing arts school in America.” Uncle Will said.  “You got this kid.”

Caesar then came up to me and gently took my bow from my hand and gave me a firm nod.  His eyes showing nothing but support and praise as he signed.

‘You’re ready. Take time to heal now.’ I smiled as Caesar then placed his free arm over my shoulder and brought my forehead to his.

“Thank you little brother.” After we separated our familial connection, Will decided that it was time for us to head back home.  As we walked back towards the bridge, we soon came across a family walking their dog and the second they saw us, fear and concern spread across their faces as the mother said astounded.

“Is that a chimpanzee?”

“Hi.” Uncle Will merely nodded as we passed by them.  Their German shepherd, however, didn’t take kindly to Caesar.  He growled and lunged at the end of his leash barking aggressively.  The woman only said one command but the dog was too high-strung now to even listen to the most basic command.

That’s when I began to notice Caesar fingering his own collar and the leash that Uncle Will was starting to yank on to pull Caesar away from the family.  The dog continued to bark aggressively until finally Caesar turned and let out a fearsome roar which scared the German shepherd and the family continued onward across the bridge.

“Caesar? Caesar.” Uncle Will called out before yanking on the leash to snap Caesar out of his rage.

“Will stop it! He’s not like that dog!” I snapped at him.  I walked up to Caesar and held out my hand. “C’mon little brother, let’s go. Forget about that mutt.” Caesar hesitantly took my hand and we continued walking back up the trail until we reached the car.

I got in my usual spot behind Caroline and went through my playlist to find something else to listen to.  That’s when I heard the door beside me open and Caesar suddenly sat down beside me instead of in the trunk space of the station wagon where he usually sat.  I took out an earbud as uncle Will came by Caesar’s window and softly knocked on it.

“You okay pal?” Caesar fingered around his collar uncomfortably before signing.

‘Is Caesar pet?’

“Are you a pet? No. you’re not a pet.” Uncle Will said.  Then what the hell was that all about back there? Grandpa and I have told him he didn’t need a leash whenever we come here and yet he continues to leash him like one.

‘Who Caesar father?’ Caesar signed again.

“I’m your father.” Caesar pondered his next sign before he finally asked.

‘What is Caesar?’ uncle Will voiced Caesar’s question and Caesar let out a small huff confirming his question.  Will let out a sigh before saying.

“Okay.” He took off his backpack and set it the car before immediately coming to the front seat.  “Lin, take your earbuds out I don’t wanna ask you again. You’re gonna need to hear this too.”

“Yeah, sure okay.” I took my earbuds out and put them back in their case as uncle Will turned the car on and immediately pulled out and drove across the bridge.  However instead of heading home, we drove further into the city until we came a windowed building and at the top the word GEN-SYS was written across in grey and orange colors with the DNA symbol inbetween the words.

“Caesar, this is where I work. This is where you were born. Your mother was here with other chimpanzees. But she’s not here anymore. So that’s why I took you to live with me.” Caesar took in the first half of the information about his birth before sadly asking.

‘Mother…..dead?’

“Yeah. Your mother’s dead.” Caesar’s saddened expression broke my heart.  But the next thing uncle Will said made me ponder something.  “The thing is, she was given medicine. Like the medicine I give to Charles. She passed it on to you, that’s why you’re so smart.”

“Five years ago, when grandpa was able to play the piano again. You’ve been testing that drug on chimps? This whole time?” I asked.  “Why not go with rats or mice like any normal scientist does?”

“Because chimpanzees and humans share only a two percent difference in DNA. We had to make sure there were no failures before trying on a human volunteer.” Uncle Will answered me robotically.  I leaned against my seat flabbergasted as well as anger.  And Caesar was no better as he felt like his whole world was coming apart.

“Let’s take him home.” Caroline said firmly.  Uncle Will put the car in drive and we drove away from the lab and finally headed home.

The second we came in the house, Caesar raced up the stairs and Will said to me.

“Lin, why don’t you—”

“I can’t even look at you right now!” I stormed up the stairs and slammed my bedroom door breathing heavily.  So this whole time, Will was using grandpa as a test subject? What if something had gone wrong? What if grandpa got worse? How could he be this stupid and reckless?!

I threw myself onto my bed, grabbed my pillow and screamed into it before collapsing backward.

As night began to settle, I thought back on everything with a clearer head.  Before the drug, grandpa was practically gone and it would’ve been a matter of time before he passed away.  Sure Will thought what he was doing was out of love, but he should’ve at least told me what all of this was really about, especially Caesar.

After all both of them have the same drug flowing through their veins.  If something were to happen to grandpa, could the same be said for Caesar? Could the drug stop working eventually with Caesar and he’d revert back to a primal animal? He should’ve been truthful with us from the beginning.

I looked up toward my ceiling and sighed heavily before standing up and reached up for the attic staircase and pulled the string down and brought the stairs fully down.  Slowly I walked up the stairs and saw Caesar standing in front of his mirror looking at himself in self-deprecation.

“Caesar?” he turned toward me jumping slightly.  “Sorry, should I leave?” Caesar gestured for me to come in and so I did.  With slow, cautious steps I came over to him and sat down on his bed and looked at him as he continued to stare at himself in the mirror.  Fingering over his birthmark before huffing harshly, his facial expression filled with self-hate and confusion.  “What’s going through your mind?” I asked him softly.

‘Caesar and Lin not brother and sister.’

“What do you mean? Of course we are.”

‘Caesar not human Lin! And Lin not ape.’ He said turning towards me, his eyes burning with tears of anger and sadness.  My heart sunk and I said with a nod.

“I know, Caesar. We may not exactly be the same species but you’re still my little brother.”

‘How Lin? How is Caesar your brother?’

“You wanna know how I know?” I stood up and walked over to him.  I had him look in the mirror and continued, “Because Caesar has two eyes, like mine. Although I’d prefer if we matched, I always did favor green eyes.” I teased as I leaned up against him. “And a nose….somewhere—ahh there it is.” I then booped his nose to which he let out a small huff.  “Two ears.” I said fiddling with his ears as he let out a small shriek as he tried to get me to stop and we both laughed softly. “And let’s see what else is there…..hmm?” I playfully pondered before Caesar gestured to his hands with a small grunt.  “That’s right, two hands.”

We pressed our hands together and for a moment I thought I had gotten him out of his self-deprecation state but he then took his hands back and looked down solemnly.  I let out a somber sigh before lifting his chin up.

“Close your eyes.” He closed them. “Now forget what you see,” I took his hand and placed it over his heart. “What do you feel?” I stepped back and he opened up his eyes as he signed.

‘My heart.’

“Now come here.” I extended my arms out and he came close to me.  I placed his ear over my left breast so that he could hear my heartbeat.

‘Lin’s heart.’ He signed.

“See, there’s exactly the same.” I stroked the side of his face, “You’re mine Caesar. Mine to me. No matter what species we are, or what others may say, you will always be my little brother.” Caesar let out a sad huff before reaching behind my head and pressed our foreheads together.

As the weeks passed, the only one Caesar really began to rely on was me and grandpa.  He never looked at Will the same after that day he took us to his work place at Gen-Sys.  We all sat around the table eating breakfast, however Caesar didn’t really have an appetite for his.

“Caesar eat your food.” Uncle Will told him but Caesar brushed his tray aside.  As I took a bite of my tater tots I said.

“I was thinking instead of going out to a restaurant for my graduation dinner, why not have a barbeque in the backyard?”

“You sure Lin? Next week is your week, you sure you don’t wanna go out? Don’t you want to spend it with your friends one last time?”

“I’ve got the entire summer to hang with them. Besides they all got families coming in and parties of their own to go to. Most will be busy for at least a month.” That’s when we both saw Caesar gently reach out and take grandpa’s hand.

We then watched as he slowly took the fork that grandpa was holding and flip it the correct way before releasing his hand.  Will and I looked at each other worriedly and Will asked him.

“Dad you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” Grandpa shrugged it off before eating his breakfast like nothing happened.  I knew it, I knew this was too good to be true.  Even though I was too young at the time to know the signs but now knowing the actual symptoms of Alzheimer’s, I knew that grandpa was starting to regress.

The medicine that Will snuck from his lab and had been giving grandpa for five years now, it’s failing.  Soon he’ll go right back to where he was, no scratch that he’ll get worse.  After five years of the disease being put on hold, it’ll flood my grandpa’s mind like a tsunami.

And my fears were soon realized.  Day by day grandpa’s health got worse and worse by the minute.  There were times when he’d sit for hours on end, still and completely silent, and other times he’d be wandering off outside without Will or I knowing.

So now instead of counting down the days till graduation, I’m having to spend fretting over whether or not my grandpa is going to wander off while Will’s been staying at the office working overtime trying to find another way to help grandpa.

For now though, grandpa was sitting in his chair still as a statue yet again.  I held his cold, pale hand between mine softly stroking it as I spoke to him.

“Graduation is in three days gramps. Can you believe that? Seems like only yesterday you were—dropping me off at kindergarten and now I’m about to go to college. To be honest I’m—actually afraid. I mean….this is the point where childhood ends, and the doorway to adulthood happens now, right? Were you ever this scared to walk across the stage for your diploma? Was Uncle Will? Or even……mom?”

His face remained stoic and his eyes were glossed over with the thousand yard stare.

“Grandpa?” I softly called out to him.  “You—want something to drink? You hadn’t had anything since last night. I’m gonna get you some water, okay?” he didn’t respond.  I took a sharp breath in and kissed his cheek before walking towards the kitchen.

My nerves were rattling, my stomach was swirling and my throat was dry and heavy.  I felt myself going through the motions of getting a glass but I felt—distant from my body.  That was until I heard the smashing of the glass and I jumped up shrieking as I felt my whole body shaking.

Why this? Why did this have to happen to us? We’re a normal family who did nothing wrong to anyone? So why were we being punished like this? I slowly slid down to the floor on my butt feeling my chest constrict as I curled up into a fetal position feeling the tears burning behind my eyelids.

Suddenly I heard a loud crash coming from outside.  I quickly sat up and ran to find the front door wide open and I raced outside to see Hunsiker pulling my grandpa by his robe out of his car.  My anxiety attack soon turned to red, hot rage as I cried out.

“LEAVE HIM ALONE!!” I raced down the stairs and pushed him as hard as I could growling like an animal as I yelled. “DON’T YOU TOUCH HIM!!”

“ME HURT HIM!? HE’S THE ONE STEALING MY CAR!!”

“THAT’S BULLSHIT!!! HE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING!”

“I’M A PILOT I’VE GOT TO GET TO THE AIRPORT! HOW AM I GONNA GET THERE NOW, HUH!?!”

“FOR ONE I WOULDN’T LEAVE MY ENGINE RUNNING WITH THE DOOR OPEN DUMBASS!!”

“YOU NEED TO LEARN SOME RESPECT YOU LITTLE BRAT! NOW GET OUT OF MY WAY!”

“YOU EVEN TAKE ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS MY GRANDPA, AND I END YOU!!!” I shoved the bastard as hard as I could.

“Maria please,” grandpa said calling me by my mother’s name once again.

“Grandpa, I’ll handle this. Just go inside.” I told him assuringly and as calmly as I could.

“LIKE HELL HE IS! ANSWER THE GODDAMN QUESTION WHAT WERE YOU DOING?”

“I—I have a car just like……” grandpa began to answer but Hunsiker interrupted.

“Oh well it obviously wasn’t. You know what, I’m done, I’m done the police can handle this.” He took out his phone and began calling the police.

“Yeah sure go ahead call them! Then I can tell them how you stupidly left your car with the keys inside for 20 minutes and threatened an old man with VIOLENCE!!” I said loud enough for the operator to hear.

“NO YOU STAY RIGHT THERE!!” Hunsiker ignored me as he blocked my grandpa from moving.  I got between them again and shoved Hunsiker and snarled.

“I’M SO SICK OF YOUR ARROGANT BULLSHIT! You’ve always believed to be the High and Mighty guard dog of this neighborhood well here’s the deal asshole! You’re nothing but a Karen! Yeah an over-controlling, arrogant, egotistical, self-righteous mother—” SMACK!!

Next thing I knew, I had felt a sudden whiplash and my head was throbbing.  I raised my hand up as I felt blood coming out of my nose.  My right cheek was also throbbing and I looked up in shock as Hunsiker fully turned his attention back to my grandpa like he didn’t just assault me and continued to yell in my grandpa’s face.  All the while aggressively jabbing his finger into my grandpa’s chest.

It all happened so fast after that, a flash of brown fur shot out from the house, Hunsiker ended up on the street, grandpa had been knocked over and I heard Caesar’s angered shrieks echoing the streets as he proceeded to beat the shit out of our neighbor.

Hunsiker hit Caesar with a trashcan lid to get him off and proceeded to race back towards his house, but Caesar was hot on his tail.  Trailing up through the Hunsiker’s front garden, he used their porch column to swing around and double kick Hunsiker in the chest, sending him rolling off his front porch and back to the side walk.  As Caesar continued the chase after Hunsiker screeching angrily, I crawled over to grandpa and said.

“Grandpa, are you alright?”

“Lin? What’s—happening? How did we get outside?” he soon heard Caesar’s angered screeching and looked out in horror.  “Why is Caesar attacking him?”

“You got into Hunsiker’s car and he was threatening you.” That’s when grandpa took in my bloody nose and the bruise that must’ve been forming on my face.

“Oh Lin your—your face.”

“Nevermind me.” That’s when other concerning neighbors began coming around us and asked us if we were okay.  “We’re fine please just leave us alone.” I tried to tell them.

“Honey, your nose is bleeding and your cheek is bruising up badly, here.” Said Mrs. Goosby, a kindly widow from down the street said as she reached into her purse and took out a handkerchief.  I placed the handkerchief over my nose when Caesar’s shrieks caught my attention again.

Everyone watched in horror as Caesar tackled Hunsiker to the ground, forcefully grab the hand that he was not only pointing at grandpa with but had also hit me, and he bite off his index finger.

“CAESAR STOP!!” both grandpa and I cried out.  I covered my mouth in horror as Hunsiker’s daughter soon came out calling out for her daddy.  Now seeing the neighbor who had threatened us be nothing more than a sniveling mess cradling his bloody hand, Caesar came down from his rage and stood there frozen in shock.

“Caesar.” Grandpa called out.  Caesar bounded over to us as the neighbors around us all backed away in fear.  Caesar immediately curled into grandpa’s side, his head resting on his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around him huffing anxiously.  All while he looked up at me fearfully.  “It’s okay, hey it’s okay you didn’t mean it. It’s okay.”

I came over to Caesar and gently wiped Hunsiker’s blood from his face using the handkerchief Mrs. Goosby gave me.  I placed my hand on top of his head as we looked to the neighbors who could barely look at Caesar without fear in their eyes.  The sounds of sirens began to grow louder and louder as they came around into our neighborhood.

Hunsiker was immediately taken to the hospital with the finger they managed to find in hopes they could reattach it.  Grandpa and I were also being checked out for minor injuries but I couldn’t focus on them because Caesar was being loaded up by animal control.

I ran passed the paramedic that was trying to check for any concussions.  Even as he tried to pull me back, I lashed out with a punch and raced over to the animal control guy and pleaded.

“Please, don’t do this.”

“He’s too dangerous for you to keep.”

“NO! YOU’RE NOT TAKING HIM! We’re the only family he’s ever known! You take him away, he won’t stand a chance!”

“You’re getting too hysterical miss.” The animal control guy said to me in a nonchalant tone.

“YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING! HE NEEDS US!” I felt myself being held back by another paramedic.

“He’s a wild animal kid! A wild animal that’ll soon be put down if the court deems it so! Be thankful it wasn’t you that he attacked or your grandfather. Or do you just not care about your family’s safety?” he said nothing else as he got into his car and drove away with Caesar.

“CAESAR! CAESAR! WE’LL GET YOU OUT CAESAR! I PROMISE! WE’LL GET YOU BACK LITTLE BROTHER!!” I screamed out as another paramedic joined the other one to hold me back as I tried to race after the animal control truck but it was all in vain.

After finally getting checked out with no concussion, I immediately called uncle Will and Caroline and was in hysterics as I tried to explain to them what happened.

‘Dr. Rodman speaking.’

“Uncle Will!” I sobbed.

‘Lin? What is it what happened?’

“Caesar freaked out cause grandpa got out and accidentally got into Hunsiker’s car. He was yelling and screaming at grandpa and I tried to stop him. He—he…..they took him uncle Will! Animal control took Caesar away!”

‘Okay, okay calm down. Lin breathe. Answer me this, are you two okay?’

“Grandpa is, I got punched by Hunsiker but I’m fine. No concussion.”

‘That son of a—alright if you say you’re fine I’ll believe that. For now take Charles inside. Lock the doors don’t answer it for anyone okay? I’ll take care of this from here.’

“Okay. Okay.”

‘Alright, and Lin. Don’t blame yourself, okay? This wasn’t your fault.’ I sniffled and choked out a sob.  ‘Take your grandpa inside and try to relax, okay? Let me take care of things from here, alright?’

“Okay.” I whimpered.  “Please do—don’t let them kill him.”

‘I’m not gonna let that happen kid.’ He then hung up and I took grandpa back inside the house and locked the door.

It had been two and a half hours since I had called uncle Will and neither he nor Caroline had come home yet or at least called to tell me what’s going on with Caesar.  God I hope they showed mercy and didn’t put him down, he was only defending his family? Should he really be put down for something like that?

That’s what I always found wrong with the world.  People must always suffer even if it’s for someone else.  Like if that had been me to fully attack Hunsiker, I’d still be arrested and put in a cage all because someone was harming my grandpa.  When I heard the clicking of the locks being undone, I immediately rushed to the door and soon Will and Caroline came in.

I rushed and hugged uncle Will first who immediately embraced me back.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry I’m so sorry.” I wept.

“Don’t. This wasn’t your fault.” He told me as I felt him kiss my temple.  He held my face between his hands but was careful of the bruise on my cheek.  “Does it still hurt?”

“Only if it’s touched. I put peroxide on the small cut about 30min ago.” He nodded.  “Is…..is Caesar…..”

“He’s at the San Bruno Primate shelter. He’s gonna have to stay there until I can get a court appeal date. Which they say will be 90 days but I can’t accept that.”

“90 days?” I asked exasperatedly.

“I promise you Lin, I’m going to get him back. We’re not going to wait three months till we hear something.” He kissed my forehead and asked me, “Where’s Charles?”

“I put him up in his room.” He nodded and raced up the stairs.  I turned to Caroline and hugged her.  She rocked me back and forth rubbing my back.

“Was he scared?” I asked her.

“He was. Kept wanting to go home and even signed your name.” I sniffled as I buried myself into her chest and held her tighter.

“This is bullshit.”

When nighttime came around, I was in my room curled up on my bed trying to contain my emotions.  Tears were burning behind my eyes lids as I tried to suppress my sobs when I heard a gentle knock at my door.

“Hey kid.” Uncle Will’s voice called out softly.  I wiped my tears and sat up while Uncle Will sat down beside me.

“Are we really gonna put grandpa in a home? You know those people can’t take care of him, I’ve heard all about it from several of my friends of how their grandparents were treated.”

“Hey, hey listen. Your grandpa isn’t going anywhere. This is his home.”

“But what are we gonna do Will? He’s getting worse and worse each day. What if—what if he forgets us entirely? Or if he—”

“Hey, don’t talk like that.”

“I’m scared uncle Will. I don’t wanna lose him like I lost…..” I sniffled as uncle Will brought me into his arms.  Gently shushing me as he rubbed my back.

“Don’t you worry about this stuff, you let me handle it.”

“But I don’t want you to do this alone.”

“You’re still young Lin. You shouldn’t have to worry about stuff like this. All you should be worried about is your next concert performance next month in LA. You let me worry about Charles, okay?” he wiped my tears away as he had me look up at him. “Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Atta girl.” He kissed my forehead before pressing his forehead to mine.  A common thing we do now, especially ever since having Caesar.  “Now go to sleep.” I softly smirked before getting under the covers and he kissed me goodnight before turning off my light and fell fast asleep.

The next morning I awoke to hear the sound of the piano playing, however this wasn’t like the last few years grandpa tried to play.  This was something I hadn’t heard ever since I was really, really little.  The skill my grandpa had been known for when he was a music teacher.

I quickly got up and headed downstairs and I stood by uncle Will as we both stared at grandpa in awe as he rapidly played the piano like Mozart.  When he came to the end of his playing, I couldn’t help but applaud loudly.  He turned towards us and said.

“I can play again.” I nodded as I let out a few giddy giggles. “Lin quick go get your violin, I wish to do a duet with you.”

“Hold on a second dad, I just wanna see something real quick first. Come with me.” He took grandpa’s hand and led him into the dining room and set him down by the window.  There he began to take his blood pressure, checked his eyes all the while saying.  “I’ll need to keep track what I take from the lab. Although I don’t foresee you needing more than one treatment a month.”

“Something amazing has happened.” Grandpa said in awe.

“Yeah, I’ll need a blood test, and a scan and the dosage. You’ll have to be carefully monitored.”

“Will….”

“Now if I can sneak some….”

“Will! I’m not sick anymore.” Said grandpa with relief.  I don’t know what Will was talking about earlier, all I could think about was just seeing the clearness in grandpa’s eyes.  The eyes that I vaguely remember long before he got sick.  He was back, he was truly back!

“It’s nothing dad.” Said uncle Will with a smile.

“Caesar. Where’s Caesar? I want to see him.”

“I’ll go get him for you.” Uncle Will said before heading upstairs.  Grandpa turned to me and immediately embraced me as he even picked me up and I let out a small shriek of excitement.

“Oh Lin my little songbird.”

“Glad to have you back grandpa.”

“Tell me again, when is your first orchestra performance with the Community center?”

“Next month down at the Zipper concert hall in LA.”

“Well save me an extra spot of roses for your dressing room cause I’ll be there cheering you on.” I smiled and hugged grandpa again.

“That means a lot coming from you grandpa.”

“Guys!” uncle Will called out alarmed.  He soon came racing down the stairs and he said, “Caesar’s not in the house.” My heart sunk as I raced upstairs thinking he could’ve gone under my bed without me noticing.

“Caesar? Caesar? Okay don’t play around here, we’re getting scared.” All through the house I could hear both uncle Will and grandpa calling out for Caesar.  When I came to grandpa’s room and saw the open window I immediately called out, “GUYS!” I heard them racing up the stairs and I pointed towards the window.

We came outside as both uncle Will and I called out Caesar’s name.

“CAESAR!”

“CAESAR WHERE ARE YOU?!”

“Alright he can’t have gotten far.” Grandpa tried to assure us as we all raced down the sidewalk calling out Caesar’s name.  As we came to the Hunsiker’s home, that’s when we heard the sounds of Caesar’s panicked shrieks.  Uncle Will ran as fast as he could with me behind him and to my horror I came to see Mr. Hunsiker wielding a bat trying to beat Caesar who was trying to escape his backyard.

“HEY! HEY! HEY! ENOUGH! ENOUGH! The hell’s the matter with you!?” I came up and Caesar immediately jumped into my arms and I held him protectively as I glared at Mr. Hunsiker.

You know how you always have that one neighbor whose purpose is to piss you off? Well Hunsiker is that neighbor.  He hates all kids except for his own, spoils them rotten.  Just a few months when his boys kept throwing things into our yard while I was trying to practice I yelled at them to stop and soon he comes up screaming in my face telling me to leave his boys alone.

Just because you’re a pilot doesn’t give you the right to be an asshole.

“If I see that animal anywhere near my house or my kids again….” Hunsiker yelled at uncle Will pointing the bat towards Caesar.

“He’s not dangerous.” Grandpa told him.

“The only one whose dangerous is you waving that bat around like a mad man you fucking psycho!” I snapped as I rubbed Caesar’s head.

“Lin! Language! C’mon. It won’t happen again.” he took Caesar from my arms and gestured for me to move as we left the Hunsiker’s yard.

“You’re damn right it won’t!” Hunsiker sneered as he kept his eyes on us.

“He just wanted to play.” Grandpa said one last time before closing their gate and we came into our backyard.

“I told you not to go out without us.” Uncle Will reprimanded Caesar as he sat down on the back deck stairs.  Caesar grunted in pain as he began patting at his right leg.  I leaned down and could see through his fur some redness on his leg.

“How bad is it?” asked grandpa.

“It’s really red guys.” I said concerningly.  Uncle Will sighed as grandpa asked.

“Where should we take him?”

“I doubt the local vet knows how to treat chimpanzees.” I told him.

“I might know somewhere. The San Fransisco zoo, they’ve got vets that specialize in wild animals.”

“Uncle Will, how are you gonna sneak him in without people seeing him?”

“I’ll think of something. We’ll be right back.” Uncle Will stood up and carried Caesar out to the car as Caesar signed out my name.

‘You’ll be fine. I’ll be right here when you come back.’ I signed back.  I felt grandpa’s hand on my shoulder and he told me.

“He’ll be fine Lin.”

“I know. But I still worry over him.”

“Already a big sister to him. Your mother was the same with Will whenever he got hurt. You have her caring nature.” I smiled solemnly.  “Come on, let’s settle down and have some breakfast.” He guided me back into the house and prepared our breakfast.

“Glad I won’t have to be cooking breakfast for a while huh?” I asked as he began cooking the eggs like he was a master chef.

“Just glad to finally be able to provide for you again. Do you remember when you first came to live with me, and I helped you make your first set of pancakes? You ended up with flour all over yourself from your head to your feet.”

“Sorry gramps, I don’t really remember that.”

“No matter, you were a lot younger back then. But I remember it, I remember it quite well. Felt like having my own personal little chef again, like your mom before you. And Lin,” he turned to face me.  “If you ever do wish to hear more stories about your mom, you know you can talk to me, right?”

“Yeah grandpa, I know. Thank you.” He nodded before going back to prepping the breakfast.  About an hour or so later, Caesar and Uncle Will came back and Caesar immediately raced up to me and I held him in my lap.  “How was he?”

“Needed a couple of stitches. She told us we wouldn’t need to come back since their dissolvable. But to keep an eye out for redness, fever, that kind of thing.” That’s when Caesar let out a few grunts and signed to me with a wide smile.

‘Asked pretty vet for dinner.’ I smirked as Uncle Will shushed and said.

“Don’t tell her any of that Caesar.” Caesar hooted as he came around and placed himself on my back, his arms draped over my neck.  I stood up, holding his legs, being careful around his stitched leg and hoisted him up to adjust his position.

“Boy Caesar before long you’ll get too heavy for this.” I then took him upstairs so that we could watch some tv together.

Later that night I noticed Uncle Will getting all dressed up in his finest that wasn’t work related.  I leaned against the bathroom doorframe and said with a knowing smirk.

“What’s her name?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You know Caesar never lies, and you hardly ever go out on dates. So c’mon tell me, what’s her name?” Uncle Will sighed as he paused getting his cufflinks on.

“Her name’s Caroline. She was the vet who stitched up Caesar’s leg. It was all his idea, not mine.”

“Is she cute?” I asked.

“She uhh—” he chuckled nervously.  “I’d say she’s more than cute.”

“You gonna introduce us to her?”

“What’s with the third degree huh?”

“It’s not third degree, I’m just wondering if you’re gonna keep her around or not.” I walked up and hopped onto the bathroom sink.  I placed my hands on his shoulders and said as I looked him in the eye, “You deserve happiness too Uncle Will. Lately you’ve been burying yourself into your work, taking care of not only Caesar but gramps and me. You never do anything for yourself anymore, I want you to have that again.”

“Oh Lin,” he cupped the side of my face.

“If the date works out, promise you’ll call her back. Don’t be like most guys who always say, ‘yeah I’ll call you later’ but then you never do.”

“If it all goes well I promise to call her back. Third date at least, I’ll even bring her around and introduce you and Charles to her.”

“You better.” I looked him over and took off the bowtie.  “Lose the tie, you look better without one.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah. And try not to put on too much cologne. What you have on now is enough.”

“Okay Miss ‘date expert’ anything else I should do or change?” he asked incredulously but also in a laughing manner.

“Yeah, make sure to take a breath mint or two cause you’re breath reeks!”

“You little—” he picked me up and took me off the sink before head locking me and gave me a hard noogie which made me shriek and struggle before I finally got out of his grip.  “Now run along, I’m picking her up at 8 and I don’t wanna be late.”

“You could not, would not want to wait.” I couldn’t help but tease a rhyme back to him.  He gave me a teasing crossed look before resuming his date preparations.  Once he was done, he ruffled my head and said.

“Stay out of trouble, don’t let Caesar watch too much tv and don’t stay up too late. Just because it’s summer vacation for you doesn’t mean you can stay up all night.”

“I know, plus I’ve got rehearsal tomorrow anyways. We’ll probably watch one more movie and then I’ll head to bed. Have fun on your date, but not too much fun. I don’t want to have a little cousin just yet.” Uncle Will gawked at me as I laughed and raced back upstairs.  As I came back into my room, Caesar turned to me and signed.

‘Has he left yet?’

“Just about. Don’t worry as soon as he’s gone I’ll play the movie. But we gotta keep it low, don’t wanna wake up grandpa.” Caesar and I sat by the window and watched as Will left the house and headed for his car.

The headlight came on and we could faintly hear the engine coming to life from his station wagon.  Soon he eventually drove off and I told him.

“Now we can watch it.” He leapt over and quietly shut my door before turning off the lights and I turned on my tv and got the movie set up.  Soon the main menu for Jurassic Park came on and I said, “You sure you wanna do this? It can get quite scary at times.”

‘Caesar can handle dino movie.’ I raised my brow at him.

“Okay, but if you get nightmares, I’m telling uncle Will this was your idea.” We cuddled up in my bed and I pressed play and soon the movie began.

About two weeks passed and as promised after their third date, Will actually brought Caroline into the house to meet both me and grandpa.  We heard the door open and immediately Caesar raced down the stairs and I heard him hooting and panting excitedly.

“Hey pal, glad to see you too.” As I came down the stairs I then saw as Caesar raised his hand to Caroline hooting softly.

“Nice to see you too Caesar.” I titled my head at the interaction.  Even though Will said she was a nurse for the local zoo, sometimes you hear those stories about people who just don’t really have the animals best interest at heart.  But Caesar did seem to like her, and you can always trust an animal’s instinct over a person’s opinion.

“Guess Will wasn’t lying when he said Caesar liked you.” I fully came down the stairs and Will introduced us.

“Caroline, I’d like you to meet my niece, Lin. Lin, this is Caroline.” I walked up and extended my hand and she shook my hand telling me.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you Lin. Will talks about you all the time.”

“Really well now you get the face to match the name.”

“You know, when Will told me he had a niece I half expected to meet a little girl but you are so grown up.”

“So do you help all the animals at the zoo or just the primates?”

“If I’m asked to tend other animals, I do. But mostly I keep to the primate exhibits. I’ve always been fascinated by the great apes, but chimpanzees I’ve especially loved. And Caesar is something truly remarkable.”

“That he is, that he is.” I said as Caesar came up to me and took my hand swinging it back and forth cooing softly.

“Okay well why don’t we move this conversation elsewhere and I can also give you the grand tour of my humble abode. Maybe we’ll even find my dad so you can meet him.” Said Uncle Will.

“Last I saw him, he was in the study reading Julius Caesar.” I told him and he nodded before escorting Caroline further into the house.  Caesar hooted as he pulled on my pant leg and he signed concerningly.

‘You no like Caroline?’

‘Just trying to get a feel of her. Make sure she’s good for uncle Will.’ I led Caesar towards the kitchen where he got up onto the table and leapt onto the pot rack and swung up to get him and myself cookies from the cookie jar at the very top of the shelf.  Once he got the two cookies, he placed the lid back on the jar before hopping back down and handed me my cookie.

I ruffled his head and we soon heard grandpa, Will and Caroline coming into the kitchen.

“So after 35 years of teaching I had to retire but I was granted one of the best awards by my school. They treated me like a soldier going off to war.” Grandpa told Caroline of his days as a music teacher at his old school.

“And never was there anyone like you since. One of the people who plays the cello at the community center in my group told me that their current music teacher sucks.” I told him.

“Lin.” Uncle Will reprimanded me.

“Oh come on, sucks is not a bad word old timer.” I teased as I took a bite of my cookie.

“You play at the community center?” asked Caroline.

“Yep. Soprano violin.”

“One of the best violinist I’ve ever heard.” Grandpa praised.

“Grandpa, I’m the only violinist you’ve ever heard.”

“Not true. I’ve heard several violinists back during my schooling years, but none could compare to you my songbird.” I playfully rolled my eyes before joining them at the table.

“In fact, she’s got a performance happening in a few weeks. You should come see her play if you don’t believe us.” Will suggested.

“I think that’s be up to Lin, Will. I wouldn’t want to impose.” Caroline said.

“I don’t mind. If you don’t mind sitting for two hours for a jazz concert.”

“Then it’s a good thing I happen to love jazz music.” She said.

“It’s pretty cool. Hard to play at times especially if we do swing jazz. But nothing compares to when we get to do program music.”

“Program music?”

“It’s the technical term for film scores.”

“Ahh.”

“Yeah, that’s what she wants to be when she grows up. A film composer.” Said uncle Will.

“I see nothing wrong with that.”

“Thank you! Uncle Will thinks it won’t pay the bills in the future that I should have something to fall back on.”

“You smashing your niece’s dreams?” Caroline asked accusingly.

“No, no, no! All I meant was that while doing that, she should have a backup plan to fall on. The world’s always in a competition over something.”

“While that is true, there’s nothing wrong with chasing after that dream. And I see before me a young woman whose going to chase that dream no matter what.” Caroline said firmly as she looked at me and gave me an encouraging wink.  “We ladies got to stick up for one another, right?”

“We sure do.” The rest of the night was spent having conversations between the five of us until Caroline had to leave.

My final verdict after that night, I believe we had just found a new member to join the Rodman troop.

Months passed and it was getting towards the end of summer and close to the start of not only the school season, but also the autumn.  Caroline and Will were still going strong and whenever she had a free day off work, she’d come by the house to visit us.

Like I said, she truly started to become a member of the family.  Caesar adored her so much, grandpa liked having her around, and I did too.  She really became the female voice I could go to for advice if I didn’t feel like going to either Will or grandpa with something.  And being a teenage girl, I was really going to need that more than ever.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning when Caroline had came for her daily visits on her flex days.  It was also the first time Caesar had wanted her to see his room so we all spent the morning up there.  We all watched in awe as well as amusement as Caesar acrobatically climbed over the railings before going over to his monkey bars.

“Hey Caesar, come on.” Uncle Will said. 

“Good to see you again, Caroline.” Grandpa said. “You coming Caesar?” as grandpa left the attic, Caesar continued to play along the rooftop as Caroline asked.

“So what’s your secret?”

“I can’t take any credit. It’s in his genes.” Uncle Will said humbly.

“I think you’re being very modest. He’s pretty amazing. I think you’ve built a pretty good home for Caesar here.” I shook my head playfully as he was now walking along the railings like a balance beam before he hung upside down by his legs chattering happily.

“But?” uncle Will said as he sat down on Caesar’s bed.  Caesar hopped down and came over to him then Caroline said as she sat down beside uncle Will.

“He won’t stay this way for long. He’s gonna soon grow into a large, powerful animal.” Caesar, completely oblivious to their conversation, continued to chatter happily as he looked between both Will and Caroline.  She told him to hop up onto the bed, which he did as he chattered away.

Now this I knew was going to happen.  After all Caesar isn’t a dog or a cat, he’s a wild animal and wild animals shouldn’t normally be kept as pets.  And I’ve heard the horror stories of pet chimps suddenly turning on their owners and ripping them apart to the point of unrecognition.  But Caesar isn’t like other chimps, he’s way to intelligent to suddenly go primal like that.

“How’s he been doing?”

“Okay, I think.”

“I love chimpanzees, I’m also afraid of them. And it’s appropriate to be afraid of them.” Caesar broke the tension by going up to Will and began playfully shaking him.  We all laughed as uncle Will said.

“Caesar would never hurt anybody. Hey! Hey! He’s happy here, come on.” Caesar began to playfully wrestle with uncle Will before he rolled himself off the bed and I came over to him as we now began to wrestle with each other.

“He’s way to intelligent for that brutish behavior.” I said as I playfully pinned him down before he squirmed his way out of my grip and tackled me to the ground.  He then came close to my face and just when I thought he’d give me a kiss, it was actually a raspberry to my cheek and I exclaimed in playful disgust as Caesar grunted out a laughter.

“Yeah I can see that.” Caesar then leapt towards his window to look outside and beat on the window excitedly.  “Can we at least give him some open space?”

“That’s what I’ve been telling him for over a year now Caroline.” I said as I came up and rested my arms over Caesar’s bed wiped his spit off my cheek.

“Yeah that probably would be a good idea. I know a place right across the bridge. The redwoods. It’s paradise.”

“Wow, I hadn’t been there since I was a kid with grandpa.”

“We’ll have to go early, before it gets too packed. That means you’ll need to get up early tomorrow Lin.”

“For this guy, I’d get up at the butt crack of dawn.” I said going over to Caesar.  “You here that brother ape? You’re finally gonna go see some real trees. The redwoods, your own personal jungle away from home.” Caesar grunted excitedly as he looked between me and beating against the window.

The next morning as promised, we all packed up the station wagon and drove over the Golden gate bridge and towards Muir Woods, aka the redwoods.  Caesar sat in the back looking out of the car in wonder and awe.

All the times he did ride in the car, all he ever saw were the tall buildings and city lights.  But now for the first time he’s getting to see nothing but trees as far as the eye could see.  I sat in the back with grandpa but turned towards Caesar as he signed out.

‘Big trees.’

“Yeah pal, as tall as some of the buildings back home aren’t they?” he nodded.  After about 10-15 more minutes of driving we soon reached the entry way into Muir Woods.  The car turned off and Will rolled down the back window so that Caesar could peek out of the car.  We all soon got out of the car and Will came around with a leash and attached it to the collar he had put on for Caesar.

“Come on, come on.” Uncle Will said as he opened the back door and Caroline came and rubbed the back of his head.

“He doesn’t need a leash, he’ll be fine.” Grandpa said.

“Just to be safe, come on.” Uncle Will stated.  I rolled my eyes but didn’t say anything.  But I couldn’t help but smile at Caesar’s excitement as he bounced around and walked between all of us.

“Come on Caesar.” Grandpa called out.  We passed under the sign and Caesar continued to look around in awe.  “This is the redwoods.” Grandpa pointed out to Caesar and we continued to walk along the trail until we got towards the bridge that stood over the creek and eventually led into the depths of the woods.

Grandpa and I were already a quarter of the way across the bridge when Will called out to Caesar telling him.

“Alright. If I take this off, you cannot leave my sight. I would never find you again. Okay?” uncle Will slowly took the leash off of Caesar but he didn’t immediately go running off, in fact his excitement dwindled and he did something that we had never seen him do before.

He bowed his head and slowly extended his right hand out, palm facing upward.

“What’s this?” grandpa asked as we came back over to him.

“He’s never done that before.” I pointed out.

“What’s he doing?” he asked Caroline who didn’t seem confused but surprised.

“I don’t believe that.” Caesar briefly looked up before gesturing to his palm again.

“What?” asked uncle Will.

“He’s asking your permission. It’s a supplicating gesture.” Caroline then took Will’s hand and had him gently run his fingers across Caesar’s palm softly saying, “It’s okay.” Will gave him a nod and I told Caesar.

“Go on brother ape, off you go!” Caesar chattered excitedly before bounding across the bridge, hopping over the railing and running through the trees at the side of the bridge.  We saw the rustling of the shrubs and his excited shrieks echoed through the woods.

“Look at him go!” grandpa called out as the four of us ran across the bridge to follow him.

We entered deep into the forests where the only trail you had was the natural one before you.  All of them leading you in different ways and directions, and the encompassing trees almost makes you feel claustrophobic to some who don’t know these woods.

Both uncle Will and grandpa were calling out for Caesar, uncle Will more frantic as we couldn’t find Caesar anywhere.  But if I knew him, I knew he wouldn’t just run off.  This is all still new to him, he probably ran off before stopping somewhere to admire the view of these trees.  After all, throughout the entire car ride here he couldn’t stop signing about the trees.

As Caroline, uncle Will and I came to a clearing where the tallest trees stood in a circle, there at the center of the clearing stood Caesar.

“I knew it.” I muttered with a soft. comforting smile.  Caesar was absolutely mesmerized by the size of these trees and couldn’t wait to climb them but he wanted to wait for us to see him do it.

“Caesar!” grandpa called out as he came and joined us.  Caesar turned toward us and he encouraged him, “Go on Caesar, climb!” at that statement, Caesar ran towards the first tree he saw and immediately began climbing up it.

“Go higher!” cried uncle Will.  We all watched with pride as Caesar’s natural climbing abilities took over as he scaled higher and higher into the skyline of the forest.  Grandpa let out one more encouraged ‘climb’ towards Caesar as he was now no more than a speck up in the trees. “Be careful! Caesar be careful!” Uncle Will advised.

“He’ll be fine, you worry too much uncle Will.” I said as we heard Caesar’s shrieks echoing through the woods one last time but it wasn’t out of fear, but pride.

Now at age two Caesar was really starting to grow up and show his intelligence.  He was completing puzzles and lego models for kids 8+ so for tweens like me who have to work hard for hours or even days on end on the Lego Star Wars Death star, Caesar can get it done within 24hrs.  Yeah he’s that smart.

I stormed in the house and walked past Irene, grandpa’s nurse and she greeted me.

“Hey Lin, how was your day?”

“It sucked! I’ll be in the attic!” I stomped up the stairs loudly and ran across the hall and reached up for the attic stairway but the rope kept swinging away from my fingertips.  “Damnit!” I hissed lowly as I looked around and found the stepstool.  “I swear I better get a growth spurt once I’m 16!” I pulled down the attic entryway but as I pulled down the staircase fully, I took a few deep breaths trying to calm down.

After scaring him the last time I got angry, I didn’t want to take my anger out on him after the bad day I had.  Once I was calm, I walked up the stairs into Caesar’s room.  Uncle Will and I had worked together to really enrich this old attic into a playroom for Caesar.

Some of the old toys I never played with again were now his, the stereo that stood on a desk filled with some books that he and I would read to Caesar.  All of them ranging from basic children’s books with lots of pictures to young tween novels like The Hobbit, Harry Potter or the Magic tree house series (those books I loved reading when I was little).

There was also some ‘monkey bars’ given for him to hang on or swing around on in order to climb up to the banisters above the balcony.  And of course the giant window that stood proudly at the center of the room and he could look out and see the entire neighborhood (well not the whole neighborhood but you get the picture).

“Caesar?” I called out.  I heard the sound of my old interactive toy phone being played with.  I walked over and looked over his bed and found Caesar on the ground, headphones on and being intrigued with the toy phone.  “Hey! Caesar!” I called out louder as I could faintly hear the loud music coming from his headphones.

He then turned to me and immediately reached for his monkey bars and swung himself onto the bed before bounding over to me and hugged me hotting happily.  The chord of the headphones came off and soon the music he was listening to now played through the speakers of the stereo.  I smiled and felt myself feeling better as he patted me enthusiastically.

“Hey buddy, hi. Oh I missed you too!” I separated from him as he continued to hoot and pant excitedly.  I took the headphones off his head and told him, “You listening to my cd’s again? John Williams this time huh? You like him too?” as E.T’s flying theme started playing through the speakers, Caesar hooted and jumped on the bed as his hands slammed onto the mattress.  “Yeah he’s the best composer ever, maybe I should get you to watch the film. I think you’d like it.”

I went over to the speaker and turned the volume down when I took notice of something on the table just across from his bed.  As I walked over to the table I asked him.

“Hey, where’d you get these puzzles?” Caesar stopped his excitement and just looked at me anxiously.  “Aren’t these grandpa’s puzzles?” I noticed that he had gotten three of my grandpa’s puzzles.  The 500 piece puzzles that only old people can seem to have the patience for.  One was a man and woman on a horse going over a beach, the other was of the New York skylight, and the third was the Declaration of Independence being signed.

The third one he was nearly done and he was about halfway done with the first two.  I turned to Caesar and raised my brow skeptically at him.  He looked down between the bed and my gaze before he lept over the bedframe and hid behind it and occasionally peeking out over the frame before hiding again.  I walked over and stroked along the puzzle of the man and woman on the beach as Caesar began nervously hooting and making a few hand gestures.

“Am I gonna tell?” I translated.  “No, no I won’t tell. This can be another secret of ours.” I heard Caesar walk back and hop onto the bed as I shook my head astounded.  “I can barely do the edge pieces to these things.” I walked over towards Caesar and collapsed across his bed letting out a deep sigh.  Caesar bounded his way over to me, his green eyes showing deep concern as he lowly hooted and signed again.  “Sad? You could say that.”

Caesar then lay down carefully and started stroking through my hair almost like he was grooming me.  I smiled softly and said.

“Thanks brother ape.” I reached and cupped the side of his face and he pressed his face against my palm.  “Never thought I’d see the day, but I don’t think Gabi and I are friends anymore. And it’s for real this time.” Caesar softly grunted as he pointed at the necklace I wore around my neck.  “Yeah, the same Gabi who gave me this, and I gave her one with my name when we both went to Disneyland last summer for our orchestra fieldtrip.”

I sat up as Caesar settled himself close to me, his hand resting on top of my lap as he rested his chin to my shoulder brushing my hair gingerly out of my face.

“I knew she had been acting distant lately, but I’d never thought it was because she was hanging out with Hannah and her cronies. Those girls made our lives hell last year, and now Gabi just up and joins in their little friend group and pretend I don’t exist!? After all we went through! I don’t…..” I felt a couple of tears slip down my face.

I then felt a rough yet gentle leather finger reach up and catch one of my tears.  I sniffled and rubbed my eyes harshly to try and get rid of the tears.

“I’m sorry Caesar, you don’t need all this teenage drama dumped on you.” Caesar softly hooted and signed.

‘Sister was sad, Caesar listened. Talking help?’ I smiled softly.

“Yeah. It did kinda help to talk about it. Can’t really dump this stuff onto gramps, and Uncle Will’s been busier than ever lately. Thank you Caesar.” He smiled at me before jumping off the bed and ran over to grab something.  He came back and placed something into my lap as he hooted softly.  I took the object and saw that it was a miniature handmade bicycle made out of two old toy wheels, some cooper wire, and old silver and green hinges.

I turned the wheels around and marveled at the bike.  It was practically a perfect replica of a real one and he made it with various materials and tools found around up here.  I looked up at Caesar who sat there looking modest.

“Did you make this?” Caesar pondered with his hand to his chin avoiding eye contact for a brief moment before looking at me and opening his mouth panting as he also smiled.  I felt myself smile more as I told him, “You’re a smart yet cheeky ape.” Caesar let out a laugh as I continued, “Maybe you can help me with my science project next eh?” I dug through my backpack and brought out all my books and folders as I showed Caesar what I had learned today in the 6h grade.

As night rolled around a sudden thunderstorm had swept over San Fransisco.  Thank god I already took my bath just an hour before the storm rolled around cause this was probably the worst storm I’ve ever heard.  A loud boom of thunder almost shook the house and I heard the fast paced running of Caesar racing down from the attic, as a flash of lightning struck from my window I suddenly was tackled to my bed and felt a shuddering, furry ape holding onto me while grunting and hooting fearfully.

“It’s okay Caesar, it’ll be okay.”

‘Thunder shake house. Will it be okay?’

“Of course it will. The wind can’t knock down this house, not like the trees outside.”

‘You’re sure?’

“Yes. Here why don’t you sleep with me tonight? I know Uncle Will says you gotta get used to sleeping by yourself when you’re scared but I think tonight he’ll have to learn to make an exception.” Caesar immediately settled himself onto my bed but refused to let go of my hand.

As I got settled in another loud boom of thunder made him shriek as he curled up beside me, his head burying itself into my chest.  I wrapped my arms around him and stroked through his fur in soothing circles.

“Shhhh, it’s okay. I’m here Caesar. It’s okay.” I softly spoke.  But even with my comforting touch and words, I could still feel him trembling in fear.  I thought long and hard until I remembered our favorite movie together.  Mighty Joe Young, the song they sing in the movie, it always seemed to put him in a good mood and he’d always say that the bond between Joe and Jill was like us.  So I did exactly what Jill did for Joe after he had destroyed his enclosure and sung the lullaby from the movie.

Imba wimbo

Wa upepo

Wakati unajiwa na

Imba wimbo wa upepo

Wakati ndoto tamu

Lala mpaka usiku uisheni

Upepo wa usiku

Wimbo wangu na

Inaendelea

Milele

I looked down and saw that Caesar had now fallen asleep against my chest, his face now clear of any fear that he had before.  I smiled softly and kissed his forehead before whispering.

“Goodnight little brother.” I pulled the covers over the both of us and soon fell fast asleep holding Caesar in my arms.

And as it turned out, the storm from last night ended up carrying into the next morning.  So I knew that everyone would be driving frantically to their next destination (I swear if it’s not sunny weather, people lose their freakin minds!).  As I donned on my raingear and prepared to leave for the bus stop up the road, Caesar came and took my hand signing as he frantically hooted.

‘No go today. Stay here with Caesar!’

“I can’t Caesar. I’ve got a big math test today and I haven’t studied for it. I’ll be fine and so will you.” Caesar began pulling on my arm hard and fearfully but I took his hand and removed his grip from my arm.  “No Caesar! You stay, I go. No following.” I told him as I also signed it to him knowing that I meant it.

Caesar looked at me pitifully but stepped aside and allowed me to go.

“Be good, I’ll see you when I get back from school.” I kissed his head and opened up my umbrella before quickly racing out of the house for the bus stop.

It was a typical Wednesday (besides the weather).  And like I have every Monday, Weds. and Friday it was my favorite elective, Orchestra.  I’ve really come to love music just beyond listening to it.  Through our class whenever we’re not practicing for Districts, we play the most famous film scores like Pink Panther, Jurassic Park, E.T. we’ve even tried a couple of songs from the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

When the bell rang signaling class was over, I packed up my violin and put away the music sheets back onto the table when my teacher Ms. Stanley called out to me.

“Lin, could you stay behind for a moment, I want to talk to you about something.”

“Sure Ms. Stanley, what is it? Am I in trouble?”

“No, no nothing like that. Since you came into my class, I’ve been taking notice of how you play. Most of the students here are in it for an easy grade or just to check something off their elective courses. But when I see you play, you almost seemed enveloped in the music. Like you become one with it.”

“Thanks Ms. Stanley. Growing up I’ve always loved hearing all the best film composers from John Williams to Hans Zimmer, James Horner, Alan Silvestri, James Newton Howard, John Powell, all those guys.”

“Do you know the San Francisco community music center?”

“I know of it but I’ve never been in it. I took lessons from the old rec center that used to be around before they moved buildings a year ago. But they only did up to 10 years old for lessons.”

“Well I happen to have an old college friend who works at the community center. And not only is he the head maestro but he also runs a tour group that goes out every summer to perform for various studios across America. How about you let me recommend you for an audition?”

“Me? Seriously?”

“You’ve got talent in the likes I rarely see in kids your age. Here why don’t you take this brochure and show it to your uncle and have him look at the website for more information. Then once I hear back from my friend I’ll give you the details after class.”

“Yeah, yeah I’ll—I’ll do that. Thank you Ms. Stanley.” I said taking the brochure from her hands and feeling my heart just ready to burst out of my chest in excitement.  I heard the warning bell ring and she quickly wrote me a late pass for my next class and I thanked her again as I raced out with a skip in my step.

Once school was over and I ran down the street in the rain I came up the stairs and quickly unlocked the door and came inside shaking off the raindrops from my umbrella and my raincoat.

“I’m home!” Irena soon came in and she greeted me.

“Hello Lin, had a good day?”

“Oh the best. Where’s gramps I gotta tell him something.”

“I’m afraid it’ll have to wait, your grandpa’s having a—bad day right now. I just had to step aside for a moment to calm myself down.”

“Ohh I see. I’m sorry Irena. But we really do appreciate you coming here, even if he has a bad day.” She merely gave me a hesitant nod but I could see it on her face, she was almost at her wits end with grandpa’s episodes.  I went upstairs to see Caesar and right away I was tackled by him the second I came into the attic space.  “Hey buddy glad to see me huh?”

He hooted and playfully we began to wrestle with each other before he had me pinned down and pretended to whack me repeatedly and I let out a few playful grunts before lying ‘dead’.  I heard Caesar’s curious cooing sounds as he paced around me before sniffing me.  That’s when I opened my eyes and blew air in his face which made him jump back as he shrieked and hollered playfully before laughing.

“Yeah, yeah I’d know you’d never hurt me.” He came up and hugged me before signing.

‘Happy?’

“You could say that. Oh Caesar you wouldn’t believe what my orchestra teacher told me.” I went over to Caesar’s bed and sat down and he came up beside me, curiously looking over my shoulder as I dug through my backpack for the brochure.  “This is the San Fransisco community center. It’s about roughly 25-30 minutes from here, they’ve got the best music and arts program in the entire city. My teacher told me she’s got a friend who’s the head Maestro for the Orchestra dept. there. And she said she’d get me an audition for them!”

Caesar hooted excitedly and signed to me.

‘You’ll get in it.’

“Well first we’ll have to see if he even agrees to have me audition. And if I do somehow get it, I can be a part of that orchestra for as long as I want. And I’ll even be able to tour around the country performing for thousands of people!”

‘You go away forever?’

“No, not forever Caesar. Of course I’ll come back, as long as you’re here waiting for me.” I took his hand.  “You’re my brother ape Caesar, I’ll always be there when you need me, just like I know you’ll be there for me.” Caesar let out a pant as he pulled my head towards him and we pressed our foreheads together as a sign of affection, rocking from side to side.

‘I love you Lin.’

“I love you too big guy. Now wanna learn some more sign language. Bet it gets kinda boring learning the same basics with Uncle Will.” I couldn’t help but tease.  Caesar playfully pushed me down onto the bed which made me laugh and Caesar also let out a laugh as well.  I then pulled out my homework and together we got to work practicing the lesson I was given for this week and to ready myself for the next test coming up in a couple of weeks.

Another year passed by and Caesar was now three years old.  As a surprise, we had planned a little birthday celebration for him.  I was in charge of the decorations and the table setting while Uncle Will made the cake stuffed with some of Caesar’s favorite fruits.  To make sure this was kept a surprise, grandpa promised he’d keep Caesar upstairs and entertain him while uncle Will and I got everything ready in the kitchen.

“How’s the cake coming along uncle Will?” I asked as I tied up another balloon and let it go up towards the ceiling.

“Oh pretty good.” I looked up and saw how he was covered in flour and frosting.

“Uhh uncle Will. I think the frosting’s supposed to go on the cake, not on your face.”

“Haha you’re hilarious.” He said sarcastically. “Just having a bit of trouble getting the last of the frosting out. You know how hard it is when you’re trying to get the last bit of toothpaste out, well imagine that but a bigger tube.”

“I thought you said we had enough frosting?”

“We do, it’s just always a bit tricky to get the frosting to come out especially with all these designs you’re making me do.”

“Hey I only suggested one tree but you had to do two of them, plus writing out the message in frosting. I had written on the list to get those eatable letters you can put on cakes.”

“Those are nothing but cheap plastic letters. And their too small, he could choak on them.”

“He’s smart to know not to eat them whole.”

“Whatever, just get back to decorating.” He ordered me.

“Yes sir squadron leader.” I saluted mockingly.

“Don’t get smart. We don’t have much time before Caesar gets restless and Charles can only hold him off for so long.” I nodded and got back to work.

“You think he’ll like my gift to him?”

“There’s no doubt about that. You’ve been working on it for months now practicing day and night.”

“Yeah, but……”

“Hey, no buts. He’ll love it, he loves it when you play your violin and knowing that you’ve been practicing his favorite score piece, he’s gonna love it.” I smiled softly as I finished setting up the table and Uncle Will finally brought over the cake.  “Okay, all that’s left is the candles and the guest of honor himself.”

“Should I go get them?”

“Be my guest.” He said as we both left the kitchen.  I headed up for the attic and saw both Caesar and grandpa sitting on the bed reading Julius Caesar.

“Sorry for interrupting but we’re ready.” Caesar looked at my with a head tilt as he hooted in confusion.  “We’ve got a surprise for you downstairs Caesar.” At that word, he began to hoot and shriek excitedly as he bounded over towards me.  “Okay, okay easy Caesar. Steady. First you’re gonna have to close your eyes.” He let out a whine but I told him, “don’t play that card on me. What good is a surprise if you just go down and see it? Now close your eyes.”

“C’mon Caesar, just play along with her.” Grandpa encouraged him as he came up and took his hand.  Caesar then climbed up into grandpa’s arms and closed his eyes as we both climbed down the stairs.  “Keep them closed, we’re almost there.” Grandpa told him, “No peeking.” Caesar hooted and started to bounce in grandpa’s arms until we finally came to the kitchen and I said.

“Okay, open them.” When Caesar removed his hand from his eyes, they grew wide at all the decorations as we all cried out.

“Surprise!” He let out some excited shrieks as he hopped out of grandpa’s arms and came over to the table and admired everything.  He first went over to uncle Will and hugged him.

“You’re welcome pal, happy birthday.” Caesar then came over to me and we hugged each other.

“Surprised you didn’t we?” Caesar let out a few excited pants as he smiled happily.

“Alright, here we go.” Uncle Will soon lit the candles as we all sat down around the table and we sang happy birthday to Caesar.  He was so happy as he looked at each of us and swayed in his seat before he blew out his candles by the end of the song.  We clapped and uncle Will began cutting the cake for each of us to eat.

Pictures were taken, laughs were had, and Caesar rejoiced at the new presents he got from grandpa and uncle Will.  Then the time came for me to give Caesar my gift.  I grabbed my violin and tuned it up before telling Caesar.

“Hey Caesar, come into the living room real quick.” Soon he, uncle Will and grandpa came in and Caesar and grandpa took a seat on the couch, uncle Will stood at the doorway between the living room and the kitchen with a video camera in hand.  “Uncle Will turn it off!” I cried out.

“It is off.”

“No it’s not why’s the red light on?”

“It’s the off light.” I looked at him annoyed. “Just go pretend I’m not doing anything.” I let out a groan but turned to Caesar and said.

“This is for you buddy, happy birthday.” I took a deep breath before exhaling as I held my violin to my shoulder and placed the bow along the strings.  I heard the song in my head and readied my fingers on the notes that needed to be played and soon the famed score for “E.T’s flying theme” began echoing through the living room.

Caesar let out a few excited pants and shrieks as he clapped before settling down and watched me in awe as I continued to play his favorite John Williams score.  Closing my eyes I felt myself enwrapped in the music as I could feel myself flying in the sky much like E.T and Elliot did on their bike.

Even though it was just me and my violin playing, no brass instruments or accompanying strings, I still gave as much emotion into this performance as I would if I had a whole orchestra with me.  Once I got to the end and finished the final notes, all went quiet before I heard the three person applause.

“Oh brava, bravo!” grandpa cheered.  I opened my eyes and bowed before Caesar came up and hugged me.  I set my violin down and hugged him back.

“Did you like it?”

‘Loved it! Caesar very happy! Thank you Lin.’ He signed as he hooted excitedly.

“What are you doing up? It’s only been a day since your surgery, I don’t think it’s wise for you to be up and walking just yet.”

‘Smelled the old cleaning products and heard the small creaks of your violin.’ He signed to me.  I smiled solemnly before turning to it.

“I could be fooling myself. This old thing hadn’t been touched in over a decade. It’s probably shut down a long, long time ago. And I mean before the Simian flu outbreak.” Caesar entered my room and I let out a deep sigh.  “You know how passionate he was about music. Hell that’s probably the first thing I can remember of him from when I was just a baby. The way he played piano, it was like….he soared with each key he played. And in that sense, he inspired me to play my own instrument. After he died, it—it was like that passion was sucked right out of me. Like I had lost a part of myself.”

Caesar looked at me with empathetic eyes then he reached behind my head and pressed our foreheads together.  My lip trembled slightly and my stomach churned as it grew heavy with sorrow.  After he released my head he then signed to me.

‘You still have some care for it to clean it. The music is still within you, I can see it in your eyes.’

“I don’t know if I can Caesar.” I told him as I turned back to my violin.

“Try.” He verbally spoke.  “For…..me?” I turned back to him and said.

“You know I could never say no to you whenever you asked for me to play for you.”

“Why…I asked.” He gave me a soft yet teasing smile.  I once again reached out for my violin and bow and held it over my left shoulder.  I got my fingers into position and felt a wave of pure nostalgia flow over me as I got into playing position.

God I had almost forgotten just how much I had loved to be in this position.  But whether or not I still had the music within me as Caesar claimed, or whether this old thing still has any music left in it, only the Orchestral Gods would know.

PLAY VIDEO

I took a deep breath before exhaling out slowly, placed the bow over the strings and slowly began to play.  I played an E not in G major before playing a few D majors then A.  As I played, the music from my violin slowly began to stir to life, almost as if it had been longing for this moment to be played by me once again.

Now I will admit the first few notes weren’t the best due to lack of use but the most I began to play, the more beautiful each note became.  I held my old friend as close as I remembered playing him so long ago as the music fully began to encompass the room and within my soul.

Tears softly dripped down my face as I allowed my pain, sorrow, guilt and yearning out into this single stringed instrument.  And when I came to playing in E major, I felt my soul soaring with each note I was playing.

That soaring sensation that music takes you whenever you truly feel it within your soul.  Guess I still had the music within me all along, it just needed the chance to come out and now it has.

When I finally ended the song at E major, I felt such a weight off my shoulders and felt tearstains on my cheeks.  A rough hand soon touched my cheek and I turned to see Caesar standing close to me with a proud look on his face.

‘Just as I remembered.’ He signed.

“My wife and I once went to an orchestra performance in Los Angeles.” I softly gasped as Caesar and I turned around and there stood Malcolm.  “The performance they were doing was Famous movie scores. She was such a fan of John Williams that she had to see an orchestra performance live. Now I wasn’t much into orchestra performances but I went there for her. And I remember seeing this young woman play with such passion and heart, that it even stirred something in me. That young woman was you, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah. Yeah that was me. First soprano violin since I was 12 years old. Played majority of all solos given to me and was renowned as one of the best players in the entire orchestra by our maestro.” I told him.

Caesar took it as his time to leave allowing Malcolm and I to finally talk.  I packed my violin back into the case before locking it up and he said to me.

“You were wrong Lin.”

“About what?” I asked.

“About humanity wanting to seek out vengeance.”

“And how am I exactly wrong about that? I’ve seen things that made what happened solely in San Fransisco look like a walk in the Redwoods.” I snapped at him.

“I’m not going to ask what all you have seen before coming into the colony. But after having some time to think about your story and who you really are, we understand now. If I had been in his place, I know I’d be willing to do anything to save my dad. I know I’ve been willing to do anything to keep my son safe, because he saw things that no kid should see. And I never wanted him to go through that again.”

“He really is a good kid, giving the world he was forced to grow up in.”

“Yeah, yeah he is. And also know this Lin. You might have seen the ugliness of humanity, but never forget there is still some good in this world. And it’s worth fighting for. If Ellie had thought that, she would’ve just left you to die on the side of the road. Or I would’ve listened to Dreyfus and not bothered to allow you into the colony to recover after Ellie had helped you in case you had been infected.”

I turned to Malcolm and casually walked over to him.  I stood before him and looked up at him before quickly embracing him tightly.  He tensed up for a moment before hugging me back, his hand going through my hair softly petting it.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I wept into his chest.

“I forgive you.” He told me assuringly with a comforting squeeze. 

He is now the second person to forgive me for my family name.

Afterward I filled Malcolm and the others about Caesar’s and Blue Eyes plan.  Malcolm volunteered to help us out and with Caesar’s approval, he would help me sneak the apes into the colony.  But we still had to wait fro Blue Eyes to return before we made our next move.

Day two and there was still no sign of Blue Eyes returning.  God I hope he’s alright.  Now knowing that Koba is willing to kill Apes just so he can see his plan move forward, I’ve been fearing for his safety.  Caesar had to make a point that I never lost that fierce ‘mama bear’ protection but he assured me that his son knew what to do and that he’d be fine.

While Malcolm and the others were sleeping, I helped Caesar up into the attic so that he could see his old room once again.  Once we got past the last set of stairs, I saw as Caesar’s face go solemn as he slowly walked through the entire attic.  Gently touching each item he passed by.

“After you were taken I tried to preserve everything the way they were. I’m thankful that when the looters and rioters started happening they didn’t think twice about searching up here.” Caesar turned to me and gave me a soft nod when we heard the video camera beep.

I walked over and unplugged it before turning it on.  The blue screen flashed on and I pressed play just as Caesar came up and sat beside me on his old bed and the video began playing.  It was one of the many videos Uncle Will took when he was first teaching Caesar sign language.

“Okay. Caesar, look.” Uncle Will’s voice soon came from the video.  God it had been too long since I had heard his voice, I had almost nearly forgotten what it sounded like.  And seeing his face again on the camera, it reminded me just how young he was when he died.  “Apple. Apple.” Uncle Will signed to baby Caesar.  “Good. Home. Home. Home.” He then taught Caesar his next word.

Repeating the sign to him, even as Caesar would look away from him briefly before turning back to him.  Finally baby Caesar correctly signed the word ‘Home’. 

“Yes. This is your home. Your home. Good, good. That’s good.” Tears spilled down my face in both happiness but also with regret.  As baby Caesar then went to hug Uncle Will and Will embraced him back, the camera’s battery then gave out and all that was shown was a blue screen.  It beeped before whirring down and shutting down for the last time.

I set the camera down and wiped my tears away.  Caesar placed a hand onto my shoulder and I said.

“We had a huge fight while you were away. We barely had time to rekindle or even talk about it. Then when the end of the world came that just further pushed us into not discussing our fight and trying to forgive each other. Now he’s…..he—” I trailed off as I sobbed into my hands.

Caesar let out some soft grunts as he wrapped his arm around me, bringing my head onto his chest allowing me to cry into his fur.

“I never told him….He died…..thinking that I believed I was the one to blame for what happened with Hunsiker. I never—to-told him that I was sorry. Or that I didn’t mean any of those things I said to him, and that I…..I forgive him.” I felt Caesar’s finger gently wipe the tears as he lifted my chin up for me to look at him.

‘He knows.’ He signed to me with a strong, determined look in his eyes.  ‘He always knows.’ My lips wobbled as I sadly smiled and Caesar pressed his forehead to mine.  I took in a few deep but sharp breaths as I closed my eyes and mentally tried to let go of the guilt and regret that was now festering within me.

“I’m sorry.” We both heard as we also heard the stairs creaking softly.  We separated from each other and saw Malcolm. “I didn’t mean to intrude.”

“No need Malcolm. Come on up.” I assured him as I gestured for him to come further into the attic.  “It’s been two days. Your son is not back yet?” he asked as he now came up and stood on the other side of Caesar’s bed.  Caesar let out a sigh as he looked away from Malcolm.  “Who was that?” he soon asked, “On the video?” he said making a slight gesture to the now dead video camera.

“That was my uncle, Will Rodman.” I told him.

“A good man.” Caesar soon spoke up.  “Like you.” He then said as he turned to Malcolm.  I gave Malcolm a firm nod showing him that I agreed with Caesar and he looked at the two of us with humbled praise.  Soon we heard the sounds of apes screeching.

We went over to the window and when we looked outside, there came Blue Eyes with all of the apes that still supported Caesar.

“Phase one is now complete.” I said to them.

“Now we move to Phase 2. I’ll wake up Ellie and Alexander.” Malcolm said as he soon left us.  I turned to Caesar and he looked at me and we both knew that there was no going back now.

War has now officially begun.

We all walked out into the backyard and once the apes saw that Caesar was alive, they all gibbered and cried out with praise and relief.  Caesar and Blue Eyes first greeted each other before Caesar then moved onto great his faithful lieutenants and right hand apes.

“They need to get to the tower without being seen.” Malcolm told Ellie and Alexander.  “Lin and I are gonna take them through the subway.” Malcolm soon kissed Ellie before embracing her tightly.

“I love you.” She whispered to him breathlessly.

“I’ll watch out for him Ellie. And I’ll bring him back alive, you have my word. Both of you.” I said as I looked at her and Alexander.  The young teen soon walked up to me and embraced me.  I tensed up slightly but hugged the kid back gently ruffling his hair.  “Watch out for Ellie. In case things go south, head straight for the attic and lock it tight.”

“I will Lin.” He told me I cupped the back of his head and gave him a firm nod before walking down the stairs just as Caesar said urgently.

“Must go, now!”

‘Koba sent for the females and the young. They’re on their way. Mother too.’ Blue Eyes signed to me with as much urgency.

“Then there isn’t a moment to lose, follow us.” Malcolm and I soon took the lead as we lead the apes down the road and towards the nearest subway entrance.

We lead them through the subway entrance and walked through the labyrinth of tunnels.  To most they would end up getting lost or turned around but thankfully for Malcolm and myself, we knew these tunnels in and out like the back of our hands.

I took notice of how Caesar was starting to slow down due to his injury so I kept close by his side and asked him.

“You okay?” he let out a firm pant assuring me he was fine.  But as we came across a corner, the sound of gunfire echoed through the tunnels as the bullets began to bounce off the walls.  None of us dared to make a sound but we quickly got up against the walls of the tunnel on the right side.

“Who’s there? If your human, you better say so!” Finney’s voice echoed through the tunnels.

“It’s us! Malcolm and Lin don’t shoot!” Malcolm called out.  Malcolm then turned to Caesar and whispered to him, “The stairs, take the stairs. They’ll bring you around and up under the street, okay? Go.” the apes looked at one another before Caesar said to Malcolm as the two of them locked eyes.

“Thank you.”

“Trust.” Malcolm said to him.  I took Caesar’s hand and said to him.

“Be careful brother ape.”

“You too, sister.” He said squeezing my hand before he told the apes to move out.  As they silently took the stairs right next to us, Malcolm and I both called out together.

“Alright we’re coming out! Don’t shoot!” we continued down the tracks until we came beneath the very tower where Koba and the ape army was at.  Finney soon showed himself as he called out to us.

“Jesus Christ I had taken you both for dead.” He and Malcolm soon hugged each other while he turned to me and gave me a nod.  I lifted my chin up in acknowledgement.

“Fin, where’s Dreyfus?” asked Malcolm.

“Just underneath the tower, come on I’ll take you both there.” He lead us directly under the tower. “Hey! Look who I found!”

“I didn’t know if you made it out.” Dreyfus said as he came jogging up towards Malcolm and the two men embraced each other.

“Cut us some slack Dreyfus, takes more than a hundred apes to kill us.” I playfully mocked.

“Glad to see that twisted sense of humor hadn’t changed Lin.” He came up to me and embraced me too, but I didn’t return it and only tensed up.  He separated from me as he guided Malcolm and I towards the bottom of the tower and showed us.  “Don’t worry, we’re gonna turn all of this around.”

“What do you mean? What’s going on?” asked Malcolm as both he and I were helped onto the platform that stood underneath the tower.

“The apes, they’re all over the tower.” Finney explained to us.

“I lost the signal, it dropped out.” Werner told Dreyfus as he was fiddling around with their radio.

“Keep trying.” Dreyfus told him.  “Malcolm, Lin, look at this.” He pointed his torch just a few feet up and I saw a C-4 bomb set and ready for detonation.  He had the light follow the wires of several more bombs connected all around the bottom of the tower, “C-4, five pound blocks. Thanks to your findings Lin, we just started setting them. They’re gonna take down the whole tower. Blast them all at once.”

My eyes slowly drifted upwards as my heart completely sunk way past my stomach.  He’s right, with this many C-4 bombs I had seen them take down skyscrapers in New York and Boston.  This withering tower will be like cutting paper with a machete.

“We could use your help.” I felt my body froze.  I turned to Malcolm and looked at him with urgent eyes but he looked at me with a stoic look and gave me a nod.  I took a deep breath and said in a nonchalant manner.

“What do you have us do?” Dreyfus then said that Malcolm should help him set up the detonator while I stood by Werner and helped him in trying to get a signal out.

“Hey Lin. Just before the apes got to the main base of the colony, we managed to get a response but the signal’s just dropped. Help me find the perfect frequency in order to get them back.” I reached over to some of the old ham radios I helped find for them to use and started flipping the dials as best I could.  I knew some of the combinations in order to get the perfect signal to some of these radios but I couldn’t afford Werner to get the signal back, so I stalled for as long as I could.

That’s when I took notice of Werner’s pistol at his right hip.  I turned over to Malcolm and he looked at me and I softly scratched my nose and cleared my throat softly before gesturing to Finney’s rifle just sitting next to him.

I hummed a random tune under my breath as I turned back to the radios and continued to turn the dials as randomly as I could which caused nothing but static to come up as Werner continued his autotuned SOS through the radio.  As Malcolm stood up and walked nonchalantly towards Finney, the two of them greeted each other and while Finney’s attention was on Malcolm, I reached down and grabbed Werner’s pistol from his gun holster.

All thanks to a very special person, I’m able to pickpocket someone without them even noticing.  All it takes is misdirection and timing.  I watched as Malcolm, rifle now in hand, stood up and slowly turned the gun onto Finney who now realized what was happening.

“Dreyfus.” Malcolm said now pointing the gun at him.  Dreyfus stopped his working and looked up with both shock and confusion written on his face.  “Werner.” I pulled back the safety and pointed the pistol right at Werner’s temple.

“Hands off the radio and keep them where I can see them.” I threatened.  Werner removed his hands from the radio and slowly leaned back from it, keeping his hands up in the air.

“I’m sorry but we can’t let you do this. We need to give him a chance. We need to give him some time. He’s up there right now.”

“Who’s up there?” asked Dreyfus.

“The true leader of the Muir Woods Apes. Caesar. My little brother.” I told them.  Dreyfus turned to me, his eyes wide with disbelief as well as disgust.

“So you…..you were on their side all along.”

“The day I found out they were alive, you’re damn right I was. And I will gladly shoot anyone who dares hurt him again.” I stated proudly.

“You know I knew from the start we shouldn’t have trusted you. There was always something off about you right from the start. And now….now I realized I should’ve put a bullet in you myself.”

“Then it’s a good thing I first came across Ellie and Malcolm first, they still hold onto human decency. Something that you, an officer of the law had lost a long time ago.”

“Malcolm. Surely you don’t believe all this do you. You know what they did to us, to the people we loved. Are you going to choose this outsider over your own friend?” Dreyfus tried to sway Malcolm’s mind but Malcolm remained neutral, still aiming the gun at Dreyfus as he said.

“She has been through worse than what we have, but she still has common sense to know what the Apes asked of us.” Dreyfus couldn’t believe what he was hearing from Malcolm.

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” he softly asked in disbelief.

“No. I’ve seen things. I’ve seen the way they are. They want what we want, to survive. They don’t want a war. It may have taken me some time to realize that but Lin never had any doubt.”

“They’re animals!” screamed Dreyfus.  “They attacked us!”

“Because they thought we had attacked them first!” I exclaimed.  “When Carver first shot the young ape when we went to search for the damn, that already planted a seed of doubt into their minds. Taking advantage of that, an Ape took one of our guns and shot Caesar. Fear and anger makes others follow. And I know that.” From the corner of my eye I saw Finney start to move so I pointed my pistol at him and fired a warning shot right near his foot.

“WHAT THE HELL!?!” he exclaimed.

“That was a warning shot!” I snapped as I turned to him.  “But the next time you even think about moving, the next one goes right between your eyes Finney so SIT DOWN!!” I flared my nostrils as I glared daggers at him.  Not wanting to go against me, Finney sat down and I turned to Malcolm and gestured for him to explain since I was no longer in the mood for talking.

“Lin’s not lying. And I won’t have any regrets if she does have to shoot one of you. I’ll even join her if I have to. Now you three are going to listen and listen good. Now I know how this must sound.”

“I don’t think you have any—” as Dreyfus went another step closer to Malcolm, he cocked his rifle and aimed it right at Dreyfus’ chest.  Dreyfus stopped before his body went stoic as he proclaimed, “Do you think stopping me will matter? They’re coming. Now, we made contact with a military base up North. They’re already on their way!”

My body froze with fear.  Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! You didn’t! I turned to Werner and turned the pistol onto him as I snapped.

“Tell me he’s lying. Tell me!”

“It’s true.” I tensed up as I turned towards the radio in fear.  My hand trembling as my finger was just a hair length’s away from pulling the trigger.

In the midst of the shock and fear, none of us had time to react as Dreyfus pulled the detonator and activated it as he held it up in the air.  We all backed away from Dreyfus.  Malcolm and I aimed our guns at him as Werner exclaimed.

“Dreyfus! What are you doing, man?” Dreyfus remained still with his hand still raised, his finger right over the button to activate the charges.  One false move and this whole place goes BOOM.

“I’m saving the human race.” He whispered as he pressed the trigger.

“NOOO!!!!” I exclaimed as Malcolm quickly grabbed me and the bombs went off instantly, killing Dreyfus, Werner and Finney while Malcolm and I took cover under the platform of the subway trying to avoid the explosion of fire that now shot out at us.

Malcolm shielded me with his body as mine was pressed against the walls of platform we were just on.  The sound of crashing metal and iron colliding together before crashing down in front of us.  We also heard the sound of rapid gunfire raining from above. 

Oh God, if you somehow still are taking miracles, please let Caesar and his followers have somehow survived the explosion as well as whatever gunfire is happening up there.

When the gunfire ceased, Malcolm peeked out past the rubble when the sounds of another railing was starting to come down.  I pulled Malcolm back under the platform and soon another loud crash happened just yards from us.

“I think it’s over.” He said. “You okay?”

“Shaken but alive.” I told him, “You?”

“Same. Can’t believe Dreyfus actually blew himself up along with Werner and Finney. They didn’t deserve to go down with him.”

“I hate to tell you this Malcolm but they chose their path siding with a desperate man. And they went down with his cause.” Even though it was a tough pill for him to swallow, I could tell by his expression that my statement rang true to him.

“Come on, let’s get out of here.” He helped me crawl out from under the platform and we carefully went over and under any fallen debris that was in our path until we saw the light from the sunrise up ahead.  However that wasn’t the only thing that was awaiting us.

The gibbering sound of apes soon echoed through the exit of the tower and we soon found ourselves being forced out of the tower by apes still wielding the machine guns.  Two apes had me by either arm as they were practically dragging me outside and one of them pointed their gun right in my face.

“LEAVE THEM!!” Caesar’s voice soon roared out.  The apes ceased their gibbering before finally stepping away from both Malcolm and I.  The three of us met each other half way as I spoke to him with urgency.

“You’re not safe here. They made contact, Other people are coming, soldiers. Dangerous ones. You have to get all your apes out of the city, get out of the state if you must.” But the look on Caesar’s face didn’t give me comfort.

It was like he had already accepted what happened and that he must now finish what Koba had started.

“Caesar if you don’t, it’ll be all-out war.” Urged Malcolm in the same frantic manner I had spoken earlier.  But Caesar told us.

“War….has already… begun. Ape started war. And Human….human will not forgive. You must go….before fighting begins.” I shook my head frantically.

If he goes to war then I—I can’t get involved.  The ‘Military’ that’s coming, I know exactly who they are and if I so much as show myself to them, I’m as good as dead.

“No.” I said.  “No, you—you can still run. It’s not too late to run, please you don’t have to do this! No following please!” I pleaded.  Tears glimmering in my eyes as I desperately tried to convince Caesar to not engage in the war with Alpha Omega.

“I am sorry….dear sister. And my friend.” He said to both Malcolm and I.

“I thought we had a chance. Now having seen it through you and Lin.” Said Malcolm.

“I did too.” Said Caesar with the same manner of hope.  He and Malcolm looked at each other for a moment before he reached behind Malcolm’s head and brought him close to him.  Cupping the other side of his head, Caesar and Malcolm soon pressed their foreheads to one another and I smiled solemnly at the gesture.

He had now considered Malcolm as part of the troop.  And there couldn’t be another human more worthy of that honor than Malcolm.  After they separated Caesar then turned to me and did the same thing.  The second goodbye we had to do and this time, it could very much be the last time I ever see him again.

I sniffled and allowed a couple of tears to fall from my face as I cupped the back of Caesar’s head with my hands.

“I love you.” I whispered.

“I….love you too, sister.” He said.  We then separated from each and Caesar left us to rejoin his troop and family.  He stood at his son’s side as the rest of the troop who didn’t know Caesar had survived now looked at him in shock and awe.  I saw Cornelia step forward and reunite with the love of her life and felt my heart grow heavy with both sorrow and happiness.

I turned my back without saying another word and grabbed a hold of Malcolm’s wrist and gestured for him to come with me.  We then disappeared into the shadows and left the city to head back to the house.

When we got back to the house, Ellie and Alexander came out and ran down the steps before meeting with Malcolm and embraced him tightly.  My heart clenched tightly at seeing their family reunion and Ellie said.

“Thank god you’re safe.”

“Not for long.” I told her.  Both her and Alex looked at me confused so Malcolm told them.

“They made contact with a military base up North. They’re on their way to finish the apes off for good.”

“Not just them.” I added.

“You know who they are. The military that’s coming here.” Malcolm told me. 

“I wouldn’t even call themselves military. They may wear Army uniforms but they are nothing but terrorists. They call themselves Alpha Omega. And I was one of the soldiers amongst their ranks.” They all gasped softly.  “Bear in mind it wasn’t by choice. After being declared ‘genetically immune’ and being forced out in the streets. I was lost….and angry…..confused. For six months I was out in the streets barely scavenging for survival. That’s when I was found by The Colonel. I was given food, water, a warm place to sleep. But I didn’t know that by accepting that, I had signed my soul to the Devil by joining their ranks.”

“They…..bargained your service for food and shelter?” asked Ellie.

“Most joined willingly, others like me were scouted. In desperation we’d willingly take it. And at first I didn’t care, like I said I was—a much different person at the start of the pandemic. So long as I was given food and a bed to sleep in, I was willing to do whatever they asked me to do. But as years went by, I realized just how awful they were. Bombing whole cities, intercepting aid supplies to other colonies, taking children from their parents and using them as child soldiers.”

Malcolm’s eyes widened in horror as he hid Alexander behind him.

“So I left, but by leaving them I became a deserter. And deserters of Alpha Omega aren’t meant to be left alive. So for three years I’ve been on the run from them. And now…..now they’ll burn San Fransisco to the ground.”

“What if we try to talk to them?” asked Ellie.  I scoffed.

“There’s no talking to Alpha Omega. Especially when the Colonel is on the field. Men who kill without reason, cannot be reasoned with. Your best chance—hide and pray they don’t find you. That’s why you three need to get out of here.”

“What about you?” asked Alexander.  I took a deep breath and said.

“I’ll act as a scapegoat give you guys time to get out of the city. There’s no need for you guys to get on their radar, and trust me that’s something you don’t want to be on.”

“No. You get out of the city.” Malcolm said.  I looked at Malcolm in shock.

“Malcolm….”

“You’ve been on the run from them this long. You deserve to have another chance to get ahead of them. We’ll stay and give you the head start.” I went to argue but the look on Malcolm’s face told me that he secretly knew what would happen and he was willing to pay the price.

I came up to him and embraced him tightly.  He hugged me back and whispered in my ear.

“If you ever do find Caesar again, keep him safe.” I nodded before separating from him.  I then turned to Ellie and she and I also embraced each other.

“Take my med-back. You’ll need it more than we will.” Tears slid down my face as I buried my face into her shoulder.

“Thank you.” I released her then turned to Alexander.  God this kid was only 15 years old, he shouldn’t have to die so young.  I cupped the back of his head and saw both the sadness but also bravery in his eyes.  I pulled him close and hugged him and he hugged me back.  “You’re a brave kid Alex, your mom would be proud.”

“Your family would be proud of you too Lin.” I softly scoffed and ruffled his head before separating from him.  I looked at all three of them and said.

“You three have been the closest thing I’ve had to having a family. I—I’ll never be able to repay you guys for doing this.”

“There’s no need. Just don’t let them catch you.” Ellie told me.  I quirked up a smile then I proceeded to load up the truck with various supplies before getting into the truck and starting it up.

As I continued to sob, I rolled over to my side so that my ear now rested over his chest and I continued to sob.  My hair blocking half of my face as I continued to weep in my brother ape’s chest.

“It’s my fault… It’s all my fault….” I choked almost silently as I continued to stroke through Caesar’s fur.

“Dad!” I heard Alexander’s voice call out.  At this point I didn’t care how they’d see me now.  I know I tried to create a reputation for them these past three years but at this point I didn’t care anymore.  Let them put the pieces together of what Caesar means to me, let them figure out who I am, I didn’t care.

All I wanted was to just grieve over my little brother in peace.

I closed my eyes and just continued to stroke Caesar’s fur and succumbed to my grief.

“Lin.” Ellie’s sympathetic tone rang in my ears.  I sniffled and buried myself deeper into Caesar’s fur.  That’s when I felt a finger softly stroke up my spine.  “Lin!” this time Ellie’s voice became more alarmed.

When my brain finally connected that it wasn’t Ellie who had touched me, I looked up and saw Caesar’s eyes starting to flicker with movement.  His chest ever so slowly rising and falling as he directed his attention to me.

“Caesar?” I called out as I cupped his face while Ellie called for Malcolm with such urgency.

“Hang on Caesar, we’re going to get you help. Ellie, Alexander get over here and help me!” they came over and soon Malcolm appeared and asked.

“What is it? What….”

“He’s alive!” I told him.

“What? But…..”

“Now’s not the time for questions. It’s gonna take all of us to move him. Please tell me the trucks are close by.” I said urgently.

“Yeah, they’re just down the hill.”

“Alright. Malcolm, Ellie I’d like for you guys to take Caesar’s upperbody, Alexander, you and I will get his legs. Try to keep him evenly balanced and don’t jostle him around too much. I believe the bullet might still be in him.”

“How can you tell?” asked Alexander.

“Trust me, I know the difference in a pool of blood from a bullet wound with an exit point vs one that doesn’t.” we all gathered around Caesar.  Malcolm and Ellie placing their arms under his back while Alexander and I got his feet.  “Alright remember to lift with your knees, we’re carrying a chimpanzee’s dead weight and it’s gonna be heavy. On three together, ready?” Malcolm and his family nodded as I counted down, “One…two…three. Lift. Gently, gently. Careful.”

Very carefully we all lifted Caesar’s body off the floor.  I looked at the grass and it gave me my confirmation that there was indeed no exit wound so this was going to be even more painful for Caesar if we move him too much.

“Alright Malcolm, lead us on.”

“Lin, there’s….something I should warn you about.” Malcolm said to me.

“There’s no time you can explain on the way. We’ve got to move Caesar now.” Malcolm didn’t say another word as we proceeded to walk towards the trucks.

Along the way the corner of my eye caught something white and when I turned around I was mortified at what it was.  It was Kiba lying in a pool of blood, the top half of his muzzle almost completely bitten off, parts of his face, neck and legs had large chunks bitten off, but his fangs were also stained with blood so I knew he didn’t go down without a fight.

“I’m sorry Lin. And it wasn’t just him.” Malcolm said solemnly.  My heart broke as more tears slid down my face.

“We need to keep moving.” We continued to walk and as we did, I soon saw that Tsume, Toboe and Hige had met the same fate as Kiba did.  Large bite wounds, gauged eyes, beaten or ripped off noses, and their furs stained with large pools of blood.

We finally got to one of the trucks and we carefully got Caesar into the back of the truck.  It was a struggle but we finally managed to do it and I immediately got into the back with him.  I took notice of how he was now fully conscious and aware of where he was now.

“Lin….” He said with a gruff, hinting at the exhaustion I knew that was consuming him.

“Shhh, shh, shh. Try not to speak, you lost a lot of blood.” I told him softly as I began putting pressure on the wound.

“My…..son.” I looked up at Caesar and saw just how frightened and broken he was.  The desperation and fear that he didn’t know what happened to his family after he was shot. “My…..family.” his lip trembled and it broke my heart to see him this afraid.  “Where?”

“I don’t know.” I told him honestly as I softly shook my head. “I’m so sorry Caesar.” But it didn’t help as I saw a tear slip down past his eye.  And his heartbreaking expression deepened made me feel like I had gotten punched in the gut.

“Lin, I need you to keep pressure on his wound.” Ellie told me.  I nodded as I took out my bandana and placed it over his wound before once again pressing down on it.

“Lin’s right, he’s lost a lot of blood. And with the bullet still in him…..” Ellie started off but then trailed off.

“Is he going to make it?” asked Alexander.

“I don’t understand. I mean where did Carver get the gun? Why would he do this?” Malcolm asked.

“Ape.” Caesar’s voice soon spoke up.  We all looked to Caesar.  Malcolm walked closer to Caesar so that he didn’t need to speak louder.

“What?”

“Ape….did….this.” it was then my mind began clicking all the pieces together.

“Koba.” I said.  Malcolm and his family turned to me, “The bonobo that tried to attack us yesterday. He must’ve killed my pack first, then Carver before taking his gun and…..” I trailed off not even wanting to say it.

“But Carver isn’t here.” Ellie said.

“Koba must’ve dragged it off somewhere after finishing him off. No point in going to find him, we need to get Caesar help.” I deducted.

“But Foster and Kemp. We got separated from them shouldn’t we go look for them?” asked Alexander.

“They’re dead too. Found them this morning, hell I tripped over Kemp’s corpse this morning by accident. And if you’d like to keep whatever ounce of humanity you have left, I’d advise not going to look for them. Trust me, what you’ve seen chimps do to my wolves is nothing compared to what that type of rage and power can do to a human.” I said grimly.

Malcolm and his family looked at me terrified before Malcolm snapped out of it and ordered to his family.

“Get in the truck.” Ellie was about to get in the back when I told her.

“I’ll take care of him.” She looked at me but then nodded and closed the trunk door and rode up front with Malcolm while Alexander got in the backseat and soon Malcolm drove us out of the Redwoods and back into the city.

When we got there, all we could see was smoke rising into the sky from where the colony was.

“Oh my god, look. The colony’s on fire.”

“Where are we gonna go?” asked Alexander.  I looked out through the streets and I felt a wave of nostalgia overcome me.  Even though it had been ten years since I came through this part of the city I knew it like the back of my hand.

“I know somewhere we can lay low.” I told them.

“Where’s that?” asked Malcolm.

“Keep going straight until you reach the third stop sign, then make a right.” I told them.  With no more questions asked, Malcolm did as I told him and I looked down at Caesar. ‘You ready to go home little brother?’ I quickly signed to him.  Caesar let out a huff as the corners of his lips tilted upward in a smile, and his eyes softly shined with the same loving look of nostalgia I was feeling.

It was a couple minutes after going right when I told him to make a left and then continue straight until I told him to stop.  Even for being consumed by Mother nature’s natural embrace, the streets and homes were all still the same as I could see the very street where I grew up in.

“Are we close Lin?” asked Ellie.

“We’re getting there, just a few more houses.” I told her.  It was then Caesar began to take notice of where we were and he started to let out some proud gibbers.  “This is it, Malcolm stop the car!” the truck soon came to a stop as we now stood before mine and Caesar’s home.

It was almost completely encompassed with weeds and the ever growing trees, save for the attic window where Caesar’s room was.  Even my uncle’s old BMW station wagon was almost unrecognizable but I knew that car anywhere.  Along with my old motorcycle that stood beside it.

“This is it. We’ll be safe here.” I told them.

“Are you sure?” Alexander asked me unsure.

“It doesn’t matter, we just need a place to hide him.” Malcolm told his son.

“Alex, see if you can’t get the door opened. Knock it down if you must. Malcolm, you, Ellie and I will get Caesar.” Ellie opened the trunk door and I stepped out taking Caesar by the underarms and slowly dragged him out.

He let out a pained grunt as he was moved until Ellie and Malcolm were able to grab him and the three of us got back into our carrying positions and walked Caesar towards the house.  By the time we reached the porch, Alexander was finally able to kick down the door and I said.

“Turn immediately left, there’s a couch we can set him down on for now.” Malcolm and Ellie followed my directions and we carefully moved Caesar to the living room.  “Move the table Alexander.” He pushed the old table aside allowing us more room to set Caesar down on the orange couch.

Even with the rotting floors, the peeling wallpaper, the immense dust and the odd smell or two, I was hit with a thousand thoughts, smells and feelings that I had long, long forgotten.

Once Caesar was settled, I cupped his face and smiled down at him.  Long have I waited to bring him home but I had wished it wouldn’t be in these circumstances.

“Dad, look.” Alexander soon took a picture from the mantle and showed it to his dad.  I immediately knew what picture it was without needing to see it and I demanded.

“Put that back!” The three of them looked at me in shock while Alexander also looked at me fearfully.  “Just because we’re here, doesn’t give you the right to go poking around other people’s belongings.” I glared at them before gesturing down to Caesar.

“We need to operate but I don’t have anything. There’s a surgical kit back at the place but that’s…..” Ellie spoke up changing the subject entirely.

“I’ll go.” Malcolm interrupted her.  Ellie turned to her boyfriend with a look of fear in her eyes.

“It’s not safe.”

“He’s the only one that can stop this.” Said Malcolm.

“There’s not much here that we can use as a substitute med kit. We’ve got no other choice, if we don’t get the bullet out of him now he’ll die.” I felt Caesar’s hand softly take mine and gave it a comforting squeeze.  My rage slowly simmered down as I felt his hand take mine and I took a few deep breaths.  “I’ll be damned if I lose him now. Go Malcolm. And don’t get spotted.”

He nodded and he soon left the house to go get Ellie’s med-pack.  Meanwhile as Ellie and Alexander began unpacking the sleeping bags and making my home feel like theirs, I remained eternally at Caesar’s side, stroking his hand that still held mine.

“When you’re done you both can wash up. Bathroom’s upstairs second door to the left.” I said not looking at them.

“This was your home. Wasn’t it Lin?” Ellie asked me in more of a statement than a question.  I remained silent for a moment and told them.

“I’ll explain everything to you once Malcolm returns. But I won’t have you operate on Caesar with filthy hands.” I briefly turned and gave her a stern but truthful look.  She nodded and told Alexander to follow her upstairs.

When we were finally alone I turned back to Caesar and cupped his face once again and asked him.

“Do you remember your third birthday Caesar? When I played you E.T’s flying theme on the violin?” Caesar’s green eyes looked at me with such warmth and affection.  “It was right here, you and gramps sitting together and uncle Will in the back with the video camera. You were so entranced by my performance, even though I felt like it wasn’t enough of a gift for you. But you loved it and I think that was what really pushed me into wanting to become a composer in the future, because I wanted to not only make people feel something, but animals also feel the joy of music.”

Caesar gave me a soft nod as well as a small smile.

“And the time we first took you to the Redwoods. You were so excited, you couldn’t help but gawk at all the tall trees. You were like a kid in a candy shop. As you went to climb your first tree, you nearly gave Uncle Will a heart attack. He thought you’d hurt yourself but I knew better. You always were the better climber. And I broke my leg because of that reason, remember? When I thought I could climb one of the trees and I fell on my leg when I was 14.”

I don’t know if it was just being here that made me think about all these memories that I hadn’t thought about since being forced out of this house and never being allowed to come back.  Or just having Caesar here at my side after all these years, or even I’m just trying to distract myself from what’s happening right now (perhaps it is the third option, I don’t know).

But it at least distracted me for a moment and allowed me to fully grieve over what I had truly lost.

“Or how about the time when we tried to cook Caroline’s and Will’s second anniversary dinner. We nearly set the whole house on fire, all because someone wasn’t watching the stir-fry.” Caesar let out a soft grunt before pointing at me. “Yeah, you’re right it was my fault. And I learned an important lesson that day; Water and grease fires do not mix.” I softly laughed brokenly.

Jesus Christ I really have closed off all my emotions during my days in the military because the tears just wouldn’t stop coming as I looked at Caesar and gripped his hand as tightly as I could.

“Please don’t leave me. There…there’s still so much you have to live for.  I’ve already seen our whole family die before me. Please don’t you die before me too brother Ape.” I raised our hands to my face as I wept into them.  I felt Caesar’s rough, leathery finger gently wipe away my tears and he said to me.

“Won’t….give…up.” the tears continued to fall down my face but I smiled as best I could while pressing my face closer to our encompassed ones.

About 20 minutes passed and as Ellie and Alexander had long joined us in the living room waiting for Malcolm to return.  Ellie occasionally checking his progress until finally Malcolm came in through the door with Ellie’s med-pack.

“I got it, how is he?” he asked as he came in through the door.  But before anyone could answer, another shadow suddenly came around the corner and we were shocked to see who it was.

It was Caesar’s eldest son.  He held a large rifle upward in his hand but as he turned and saw his father clinging to life on the couch, his emotionless face soon turned to shock as he slowly set the rifle down.

Caesar was above all relieved that his son was alright and hadn’t been killed in the ongoing war between Man and Ape.  I slowly backed away to give the father and son a moment together, his son had taken my place before Caesar and Caesar panted out.

“Your…mother. Brother…..safe?” his son knelt down before his father and signed to him.

‘For now.’ Caesar sighed in relief as his head rolled over to the side.  We had to operate fast, I’m surprised he managed to survive this long but if we don’t do something soon, he’ll die.  I watched as his son looked at his father’s wound before turning to us growling aggressively.

We all stepped back and I held my hands up in surrender.  I truly didn’t blame his son for thinking that we could’ve been the ones to do this to Caesar.  After all it was a human weapon that nearly killed him.

“No. No.” Caesar reached out for his son.  His son turned back to his father as Caesar continued, “Not human…..Koba.”

“Malcolm.” Ellie whispered to him. Malcolm nodded and took his son out of the house.  Ellie slowly came around and I came onto the other side.  “Caesar, we need to do this now.” Ellie knelt down and began taking out everything she needed to operate.

“Son.” Caesar said to his son as he held out his hand.  Almost immediately, his son took his father’s hand while I stood over Caesar’s head.

“Lin, I’m gonna need you to hold him down once I take the bullet out. First I’ll apply the anesthesia but with the bullet being in him for as long as it has, I don’t know if it’ll be enough.” Ellie told me.  I nodded and turned to his oldest son and signed to him.

‘I’m not as strong as you are. Think you can help me if I can’t keep your father still?’ the young male chimp looked at me.  His blue eyes burning with fear, betrayal, anxiety and doubt.

“Trust….her.” Caesar huffed almost silently.  Before his eyes began to shut.

“Hey, hey Caesar, come on big guy. Stay awake now, don’t you go passing out now.” I said lightly tapping his face as I knelt closer to him.  Ellie found the anastatic and applied it around the wound area before getting out her other tools to help dig out the bullet.

It was a long, strenuous and agonizing process.  But Caesar’s son did help me to keep his father still when Caesar began to get too rowdy.  I had seen this many times out in the field and getting a bullet out is not an easy nor for the sensitive stomach.

There is this god awful stench that comes out when the wound is exposed after getting shot.  The rotting tissue is something so foul that I can’t even put it into words.  And it’s excruciatingly painful, and I would know cause I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum.

After a long, grueling 45 minute surgery, Ellie was finally able to get the bullet out of Caesar and stitch him up.  Caesar by now had long passed out from the pain alone but he held on as long as he could.  Never have I seen someone fight as long as he did, now it was up to him on whether he wakes up after such a prolonged surgery.

Ellie went outside to join Malcolm and Alexander, her hands stained with Caesar’s blood and I knew I had to keep my end of the bargain and tell them everything.  I turned to Caesar’s son who still had his father’s hand in his and was watching him with worried eyes.

“Your father’s the strongest ape I know. I’ve seen stronger men cry and scream like babies at surgeries like this. I’m no different, having been shot myself.” I lifted my shirt up just a bit to reveal a bullet wound that got into the side of my stomach.  “He just needs to rest and soon he’ll awaken.”

His son looked up at me and signed.

‘My question from before. Will you give me your answer?’ I smiled softly.

“How about this, look at the top of the mantle over there. Look at some of the pictures and you might know why. For now I’ve got a family I need to explain a lot of things to.” I soon left their side and slowly came out of the house.

Malcolm and his family turned to me and I came down the stairs before standing before them.

“I lied about who I was.” I told them.  “When you found me passed out on the streets and healed me up, I introduced myself as Lin Powell. My real last name is Rodman.”

“Rodman. As in…..” Ellie started off but I interrupted her with a nod.

“Leading scientist of Gen-Sys William Rodman. He was my uncle.” They looked at me with the expressions I knew they’d have.  Betrayal, anger, shock, and confusion.  “My grandfather, Charles Rodman was a popular music teacher and composer. But he developed Alzheimer’s when I was really young, which forced my uncle to take care of not only me but him as well. That’s why he got so fixated on trying to find the cure for it, and why they chose chimpanzees since we share only a 2% difference in DNA. Caesar’s mother was their perfect subject till she gave birth to Caesar. At first they thought the drug made her aggressive, but after killing her and putting down all the other test subjects, they soon found newborn Caesar in her holding cell. My uncle then brought Caesar home to me and my grandpa. Temporarily until he soon found out that Caesar inherited the ALZ-112 from his mother. We raised him, my uncle monitored his intelligence growth, I just treated him like my brother.”

“Your brother?” questioned Alexander.

“Even though he was an ape, I knew Caesar was special. There was no way I’d treat him like a pet. He understood me, was there for me. Throughout the years we had together we eventually formed this incredible bond. It’s like…..like we were meant to be together always. But my family life wasn’t perfect, my grandpa’s health was rapidly growing worse, I’d thought we’d lose him forever. Until my uncle gave him the ALZ-112 as a last, desperate effort.”

“Without a successful human trial?” asked Ellie.

“Believe me when I first found out why grandpa’s health was getting better I hated my uncle for it. He decided to play God and see if the drug would’ve cured my grandfather of the disease. But looking back at it now, I see why he did it. If someone you loved, was forgetting everything they’ve ever lived through, forgetting every person they’ve ever loved, until they become nothing but a hollow, soulless shell of their former selves, could you bear to see that happen? Hell I would’ve done the same thing in his shoes. But when he gave my grandpa the drug, he didn’t just recover he improved. He improved far better than I remember seeing him be. At least for five years.”

“His body developed anti-bodies.” Ellie deducted.

“CDC taught you well Ellie.” I commented. “Yes. The disease came back with a vengeance for my grandfather. And it all happened next door when we got into my neighbor’s car by accident thinking it was his own car. I went out to defend my grandfather from the bastard, but I was punched, and my grandfather continued getting berated. That’s when Caesar came and defended us. Like his mother did for him, Caesar went full protective mode to protect gramps and avenge me.”

Memories of that god awful day came flooding back to me as I closed my eyes and tried to hold back the tears.

“After attacking our neighbor, Caesar was taken away from us by court order. Kept in a cage at the San Bruno Primate shelter just 20 miles north from here. Then things just went downhill from there. My uncle heavily poured not only into his work to try and find a more aggressive drug to help my grandfather who was greatly deteriorating before our eyes, but also bring Caesar home. But it all proved to be useless in the end. Grandpa died, Caesar refused to come home, and soon the apes escaped the shelter and the zoo. And well you all know the rest from there.”

They remained silent.  Alexander couldn’t bare to look at me while Ellie and Malcolm occasionally looked at me before looking back down.

“Now you see why I couldn’t tell anyone who I really was. The name ‘Rodman’ is a curse. Hell I’ll bet that’s why they didn’t bother to tell me when my uncle died. Because the man who was responsible for all of this, his life isn’t worth a damn. And anyone who bears his name is marred for life. I won’t force you all to pretend I’m still family as you so claim. I can never belong to anyone anymore. Once Caesar is awake, you all can leave if you wish.”

I headed back up the stairs and entered inside the living room once again.  Caesar was still unconscious with no signs of changes.  His chest slowly rising and falling while his son was looking at the pictures I had told him to look at.  I softly cleared my throat and he turned to face me as he held the same picture Alexander had shown his dad.

‘Who is this human?’ he signed to me.

“In a way, if you wish to call him this. That was your grandfather. Will Rodman. He had his flaws but he was a good man, and he loved your father very much. Just like I did.”

‘You once called father, Brother Ape.’

“And I meant every word of it. No matter what species we were, your father and I shared a special bond with each other. He was my little brother and I was his big sister. And I know your mother tried to force it on you last night but you don’t have to force yourself to see me as your aunt. I won’t be hurt or offended if you choose not to.”

The young chimp placed the picture back on the mantle and walked over towards me.  We stood face to face of each other before he then pointed to his right eye.  I looked at him confused before he gestured to his eye again.  I then signed to him as I said.

“Are you telling me your name?” he nodded.  I raised my brow and asked, “Eyes? Is that really your name?” he let out an amused huff before closely gesturing to his eye.  That’s when it clicked with me, compared to the other apes he didn’t have the green eyes that the drug gave them.  “Blue Eyes. That’s your name?” he gave me a soft smile and nodded.  I smiled back and extended my hand, “Pleasure to finally meet you, Blue Eyes.”

He then slowly reached out and took my hand in his and I slowly moved it up and down in a handshake.

“Come with me, if you’d like to know why else I saved you from Carver.” I released his hand and lead him upstairs towards the attic.  I reached up and pulled the string down allowing the stairs to come down and I went up the stairs first followed by Blue Eyes.

When we finally came into Caesar’s old room, I allowed Blue Eyes to walk forward first and he saw for himself where his father grew up.  The spacious attic with the monkey bars that had long been rusted, all of his puzzles and models that had been preserved, and his old bed.

Blue Eyes curiously waddled towards the bed, grabbed the sheets and took a sniff of them, probably smelling the faint scent of his father from long ago.  He looked around the attic as he continued to look around his father’s old room.

Carefully stroking his fingers along the old models his father built, the puzzles he’s completed and the drawings he’s made.

“I don’t know what knowing all of this will do with your relationship between you and your father. But just know this Blue Eyes. We raised your father with nothing but love, compassion, and decency.” I then left him alone in the attic and proceeded to head to my old room.

When I opened the door, I was greeted with the faded chippings of my old posters I once had hung up.  Movie posters, concert brochures, and old photos of me and my friends who were long dead since the early days of the Simian Flu outbreak.

It was almost as if I hadn’t left, everything was still the same.  Even my bed that still hadn’t been made up since Caroline’s death when the CDC officials broke in and condemned our home under max Quarantine.  I looked under the bed and pulled out the old suitcase that I had packed everything that was related to Caesar and I.

I reached underneath my shirt and pulled out my old dog tag chain to not only reveal my old military ID tags but also the key that went to this very suitcase.  I figured in case there ever was a chance I wanted to look back into this old thing, I’d always keep the key close to my heart.  I placed it into the lock and even after all this time, it still managed to unlock and I slowly opened it.

Bit by bit I pulled out all the scrapbooks, photos, drawings he had done until I came to the very first scrapbook I made of Caesar and myself.  I opened it and it revealed the first photo that Caesar and I ever shared.

He had only been five days old and I was holding him in my arms, his arms clinging around my neck as he gave me a kiss to my cheek.  I turned to the next page and saw all the drawings he had made for me personally without showing them to Will.  They were all drawings of me or me and him together playing some game.  There was also a hand print picture that the two of us did together with paints.  It had my hand followed by his small one just covering my palm.

I turned to another page and saw more pictures of us together through the first year of his life.  Pictures that I took or that Will had taken.  Baking cakes together, giving him a piggy back ride through the house, playing with some of my old toys, or eating cupcakes for either of our birthdays.

Flipping through each page brought more tears to my eyes when I heard the creeks of the floor behind me and when I turned around I saw Blue Eyes standing outside my door.  Curiously he came into my room and sat down beside me and looked down at the scrapbook.

“This picture of us together eating the cupcakes, that was for your great-grandfather Charles birthday party. I’ll tell yah when your father got into the flour…..hoho boy was your grandpa not happy about that. But it turned out to be a good day.”

I continued the tell Blue Eyes various stories about certain pictures that were taken or drawings his father had done.  And he hung onto every word I said and every story that I told him, he became invested and wanted to know more.

As the night went on, we migrated back downstairs to check on Caesar who was still unconscious.  Malcolm, Ellie and Alexander still hadn’t come back inside so they must’ve decided to either take rest in the trucks or find another house to sleep in for the night.

Well let them do them.  I didn’t care, really I didn’t.  Blue Eyes once again looking at the picture of Will and Caesar together when suddenly Caesar let out a gasp and woke up.  I came over to him and said.

“It’s okay, it’s okay Caesar. You’re home and you’re safe, it’s alright.”

“Lin.” He panted my name.

“Yes. I’m here little brother, I’m here. And so is your son.” I said stroking along his face before turning to his son.  I stood up and allowed Blue Eyes to take my place at sitting beside Caesar on the couch while I took the floor beside him.

Both father and son looked at each other with teary eyed expression and silence before Blue Eyes signed to his father in regret.

‘I’m so sorry…for everything.’

“No.” Caesar told him softly shaking his head. “I….am to blame.”

‘But Koba betrayed you.’

“I…..chose to trust him….because he is ape. I always think….ape better than human. I see now….how much like them we are.”

“There’s always good and evil inside of everyone Caesar. Whether human or animal. And while we raised you to be good, unfortunately Koba chose to spiral down the path of vengeance and hatred. But you can’t blame yourself for that. You didn’t force him to turn to the dark side.” Caesar briefly looked at me as I stroked through the fur on top of his head before he asked his son.

“Where….Koba now?”

‘On the human tower. Loyal apes around him.’ Blue Eyes signed.

“And those who not follow?”

‘Prisoners.’ Replied Blue Eyes.  His eyes brimming red with tears as he signed out the names, ‘Maurice. Rocket.’ I then noticed how he gave a sniffle as something else was going through his mind.  ‘Koba killed Ash.’ Blue Eyes signed as he softly sobbed.

Ape not kill Ape.  That’s the law I remembered seeing written back at their colony, and what Caesar had said to Koba back at the dam when he would’ve killed him then and there.  But not only to nearly kill Caesar but actually succeed in killing another ape…..the apes didn’t deserve an ape like that for a leader.

‘Fear makes others follow. But when they see you alive…they will turn from Koba.’

“Not….if I am weak. Ape….always seek strongest branch.” Unfortunately that was a fact.  The ape who proves themselves to be the strongest becomes the leader of the troop.  If Caesar were to go now, the apes wouldn’t dare follow him nor turn from Koba.  “I must do something to stop him.” Caesar said as he began to sit up.

“Uhh absolutely not! You can barely stand let alone walk Caesar. If you fight Koba now you will be killed. You need to rest and regain your strength.” I said urgently as both I and Blue Eyes gently set him back down on the couch.